Burst Pipe? What to Do Before the Plumber Arrives

Stay calm -- here is what to do when a pipe bursts

A burst pipe is stressful, and the first few minutes matter most. Water is escaping under pressure, and the longer it runs, the further it spreads into floors, walls, and ceilings.

The good news is that the immediate response is simple, and you can do most of it yourself before a plumber ever arrives. Take a breath, work through the steps below in order, and you will limit the damage and keep everyone safe.

1. Shut off the water at the main valve

Your first job is to stop the flow. Find your main water shutoff valve and turn it off. This cuts water to the whole house so no more of it reaches the break.

The main valve is usually where the water line enters the home -- often in a garage, a utility closet, a basement, or an outdoor box near the street. Turn a round handle clockwise until it stops, or if it is a lever, rotate it until it sits crosswise to the pipe.

If you cannot find or reach the main valve, look for a smaller shutoff near the leak instead -- under a sink or behind a toilet -- and close that. It is worth locating your main shutoff now, before an emergency, so you are not searching for it while water is running.

2. Drain the lines by opening your taps

With the main off, open the cold-water taps around the house and flush the toilets. This drains the water still sitting in the pipes so it comes out at the faucets instead of the break, and it relieves the pressure at the leak.

Then open the hot-water taps to drain that side too. If you are draining the hot side, switch off your water heater first so it does not run dry.

3. Stay clear of water near electrical

Water and electricity are a dangerous mix. If water is near outlets, light fixtures, appliances, or your electrical panel -- or if it is dripping from a ceiling -- do not walk into it or touch it.

Cut power to the affected area at your breaker panel only if you can reach it while standing on a dry surface. If the way to the panel runs through the water, stay out and call an electrician or your utility. Never stand in water to flip a breaker.

4. Contain the water and document the damage

Once the water is off and the area is safe, contain what is left. Lay down towels and buckets to catch drips, mop what you can, and move furniture, rugs, electronics, and valuables away from the water.

Then document everything for your insurance claim. Photograph and video the burst pipe and all the damage before you clean up or throw anything away, and keep a simple list of what was ruined. Getting water off floors and out of the air quickly also helps limit mold later.

What not to do

• Do not switch the power back on or use electrical appliances in a flooded area until it has been checked.
• Do not pour drain cleaners or harsh chemicals into the pipe. They will not fix a burst, and they can make the water more hazardous to handle.
• Do not stand under or near a bulging or sagging ceiling. Trapped water is heavy and can bring a ceiling down; keep everyone clear of that area.
• Do not throw damaged items away before you have photographed them for insurance.
• Do not attempt a permanent repair while water is still an issue. A temporary wrap can buy time, but the pipe still needs a proper fix.

When you can wait, and when you must call now

Once the water is shut off, the emergency is mostly contained -- but a burst pipe always needs a real repair, not just a closed valve. Some situations cannot wait.

If you have safely shut the water off and the leak has stopped, the repair itself may be able to wait for normal hours -- especially if you can keep that part of the house isolated. When in doubt, call and describe what happened, and a licensed plumber can tell you whether it can wait.

• You cannot stop the water, or the main shutoff will not fully close.
• Water reached electrical wiring, outlets, or your panel.
• Water is coming through a ceiling or spreading inside walls.
• You have no water at all, or sewage is backing up.

How to lower the odds of a burst pipe

Most bursts trace back to a few causes: pipes that freeze and expand, sudden pressure surges, corrosion, and pipes weakened by age or mineral buildup over the years.

• In a cold snap, keep the heat on, open cabinet doors so warm air reaches the pipes under sinks, and let a faucet drip so water keeps moving.
• Know where your main shutoff is and make sure it turns freely, so you can act fast if a pipe ever lets go.
• Have a plumber check aging or corroded pipes and your water pressure before they fail, rather than after.
• Hard water leaves scale -- calcium and magnesium mineral buildup -- inside pipes and fixtures, which restricts flow and shortens their life over time. Where the water is very hard, that wear happens faster, so older plumbing is worth keeping an eye on.

When you are ready for the repair

A shutoff stops the water, but the pipe still needs a proper repair. When you are ready, a licensed plumber can find the burst, fix it correctly, and check whether other pipes are at risk.

Vegas Plumbing Co is a licensed plumber serving Las Vegas and nearby communities. If you are in the area and want a licensed plumber to handle the repair, you can call us at (702) 577-0365.

Whoever you hire, verify the license first. In Nevada, plumbing work falls under contractor classification C-1 -- ask for the license number and check it against the Nevada State Contractors Board's public register.