What to Do When a Pipe Bursts in Your House

When a Pipe Bursts, Stay Safe, Then Stop the Water

When a pipe bursts, do three things in this order: stay safe, stop the water, then deal with the damage. Staying safe means people first, then gas, then electricity. Water keeps coming until the supply is closed, but closing the valve is not worth a shock or an injury. Here is the sequence we recommend:

• Step 1: People. Get everyone out and call 911 if there is fire or smoke, sparking or buzzing electrics, a sagging or bulging ceiling, or structural damage.
• Step 2: Gas. If you smell gas, leave and call the gas utility or 911 from outside. Use nothing that can spark on the way out. The CDC gives this advice, and Ready.gov notes that electrical sparks can ignite leaking gas.
• Step 3: Electricity. Stay away from wet outlets, cords and fixtures. Turn off power only if you can reach the panel from a dry floor, without standing in water. If you cannot, call an electrician.
• Step 4: Water. Close the main water valve, but only if you can reach it without standing in water near electrics.
• Step 5: The pipe. Call a licensed plumber.
• Step 6: Photos. Document the damage before anything is moved or thrown out.
• Step 7: Drying. Start drying within 24 to 48 hours.

The rest of this guide explains each step. If you only have a minute, the order above is what matters most.

Keep Clear of Wet Outlets, Cords and Fixtures

The CDC says that if circuits or equipment are wet or near water, you should turn off the power at the main breaker or fuse box, but only if you can reach the panel without standing in water. If reaching the panel means standing in water, call an electrician instead. The CDC and FEMA both say never to switch power on or off, or use an electric tool or appliance, while standing in water. We go further: do not touch a panel, breaker, switch, cord or plugged-in device while standing in water or on a wet floor.

The Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) adds that a qualified electrician should evaluate water-damaged electrical equipment before power is restored.

Shut Off the Main Water Valve

The EPA advises shutting off your water valves if a pipe bursts. Do this only after the safety steps above, and only if you can reach the valve without standing in water near electrics. If you cannot, call a licensed plumber or your water utility. In general terms, the main valve controls the water supply to the whole house, so closing it stops the water coming in. If you are not sure where yours is, our guide to finding and turning off your main water shut-off valve explains how.

If the valve is stuck, do not force it. Call a plumber or your water utility.

Call a Licensed Plumber for the Pipe

The broken pipe is a plumbing repair, and that is a job for a licensed plumber. The American Red Cross also points people to a licensed plumber when a frozen pipe cannot be found or thawed. Our part is the water that has already escaped into your home. Two different jobs, two different people:

• A plumber finds the break, repairs or replaces the pipe, and gets your water supply working again.
• A water damage professional removes the water that got out, dries the affected materials, and removes what cannot be dried.

Document the Damage Before Cleanup Starts

Once the safety, power and shutoff steps are done, record what happened. Never walk through standing water near outlets or cords to do it. The NAIC recommends taking photos or videos and making a list of damaged items. Save damaged items so your insurer can inspect them, keep your receipts, and contact your agent or insurance company as soon as possible.

The NAIC also notes that temporary repairs are typically reimbursed if the loss is covered, so keep receipts for anything you buy to limit further damage. Whether anything is reimbursed depends on your policy.

What Insurers Look At After a Burst Pipe

The NAIC explains that homeowners policies cover damage from a "sudden and accidental" discharge from a plumbing system. For frozen pipes, it says policies generally require you to keep the home at a minimum temperature, or to shut off the water if the home is vacant, and that damage may not be covered if the insurer finds you neglected your plumbing by not taking steps to prevent freezing. We cannot tell you what your policy covers. Read it, and talk with your insurer. Our guides on water damage insurance claim tips and whether homeowners insurance covers frozen pipes can help you prepare for that call.

Dry Everything Within 24 to 48 Hours

The EPA says that if pipes burst and walls and flooring are wet, you should fix the leak promptly and dry everything completely. It advises drying water-damaged areas and items within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold growth. Once the power question is settled, and only where there is no standing water near outlets or cords, you can help while you wait:

• Move furniture and belongings off wet floors.
• Pull up wet rugs.
• Open the cabinet doors under sinks.
• Run fans and dehumidifiers where the power is safe, plugged in only from a dry floor and never while standing in water (CDC).

Standing water and soaked materials often need more than fans. Professional water removal takes out the water you cannot mop up, so drying can begin.

Check Below and Behind the Break

Check the ceiling under the break, the baseboards, the floors inside cabinets and the flooring next to the wet area. If a ceiling sags or bulges, do not stand under it: get everyone out and call 911. The EPA says that water that reaches walls and flooring has to be dried completely, and a wall can look fine on the surface and still be wet inside. Our guide to how to know if a pipe burst inside your walls or floors explains what to look for.

If the Pipe Froze, Check the Rest of the House

The American Red Cross says that if one pipe freezes, others may freeze too, so check your other faucets. To thaw a frozen pipe, keep the faucet open and use gentle heat: an electric heating pad, an electric hair dryer, a space heater kept away from flammable materials, or towels soaked in hot water. Never use a blowtorch or other open flame. The CDC says never to use an electric tool or appliance while standing in water, so do not use a heater or hair dryer from a wet floor.

Know where your main shutoff is before you start. If a pipe has burst or any leak shows as the pipe thaws, close the main shutoff at once, as the EPA and IBHS advise. If you cannot find or reach the frozen section, call a licensed plumber, as the American Red Cross advises. Freezing is only one cause; see what causes pipes to burst for others. For thawing steps, see how to unfreeze pipes and our frozen pipe water damage page.

When a Burst Pipe Needs Professional Water Cleanup

Call a water damage professional if any of these apply:

• Water reached the ceiling below, the walls or the subfloor.
• Carpet and pad are soaked.
• More than one room is wet.
• Water reached electrical fixtures.

Watch for mold too. The EPA treats mold patches smaller than about 10 square feet as a job most homeowners can handle. Larger growth, or damage from sewage or other contaminated water, calls for experienced professionals.

We handle water removal and drying, not the plumbing repair. Green State Restoration offers 24/7 emergency service. Our burst pipe cleanup page explains the work, and our water damage restoration page covers the wider picture. To talk with someone, call us at (425) 300-6431.