Short answer: Turn off the main water valve right away, then open the faucets to drain the lines. If water is near outlets or appliances, switch off power at the breaker only if you can reach the panel without standing in water. Call a plumber, then photograph the damage for your insurer.
Step by step: the first hour
- Shut off the main water valve. It is usually where the water line enters the house: in the basement, a crawlspace, a utility room or near the water heater. Turn the handle clockwise until it stops. If the leak is under one sink or toilet you can close that fixture’s valve, but when in doubt, close the main.
- Make the area electrically safe. Do not walk through standing water near outlets, cords or appliances. If the breaker panel is in a dry spot, switch off the circuits for the wet rooms.
- Drain the system. Open the cold taps around the house and flush the toilets to empty the tanks. Turn off the water heater before you open hot taps.
- Call a plumber. A licensed plumber can find and repair the break and check the rest of the line for weak spots.
- Document everything. Photograph and film the broken pipe, the water and damaged belongings before you move them, then call your insurance company.
- Start removing water. Mop, use a wet-vac, and move furniture and rugs out of wet areas. Set furniture legs on blocks or foil to stop staining.
- Dry within 24 to 48 hours. The EPA advises drying water-damaged materials within this window to prevent mold. If water got into walls, ceilings or under the flooring, bring in a water damage restoration company.
Talk to a local pro
Need a plumber for a leak, clog or water heater?
Call to be connected with an independent licensed plumber that serves your area. Calls are answered by the provider or their scheduling team.
For homeowners who need new service. Have ready: your address, what is leaking or clogged, and whether you have shut off the water.
If the pipe is frozen but has not burst yet
A faucet that only trickles in freezing weather usually means a frozen section of pipe. The American Red Cross advises keeping that faucet open while you warm the pipe with a hair dryer, a space heater or warm towels, and never using a blowtorch, a kerosene or propane heater, or any other open flame.
If you cannot find or reach the frozen section, call a plumber before the pressure splits the pipe.
How to keep pipes from bursting
- Keep the heat at 55°F or higher when you are away in cold weather, as the Red Cross recommends.
- Insulate pipes in attics, garages, crawlspaces and along exterior walls with pipe sleeves or heat cable.
- Open sink cabinets on cold nights so warm room air reaches the pipes.
- Disconnect garden hoses, close the indoor valve that feeds outdoor spigots, and drain the spigots before winter.
- Let a faucet drip during hard freezes if its pipes run along an outside wall.
- Make sure everyone in the house knows where the main shut-off valve is.
When to call a water damage pro as well
- Water came through a ceiling or out of a wall.
- Water reached outlets, the electrical panel or the furnace.
- Drywall, insulation or flooring stayed wet for more than a day.
- The water came from a sewer line or a toilet drain.
Talk to a local pro
Water in your home, or mold you can see?
Call to be connected with an independent water damage and mold restoration company that serves your area. Calls are answered by the provider or their scheduling team.
For homeowners who need new service. Have ready: your address, where the water is coming from, which rooms are affected, and your insurance company.
Frequently asked questions
Does homeowners insurance cover a burst pipe?
Usually, when the burst was sudden and accidental. Claims for slow leaks, or for pipes that froze in a house left without heat, may be denied. Read does homeowners insurance cover water damage.
Should I open the faucets after shutting off the main?
Yes. Opening the faucets drains the water left in the pipes and relieves pressure, which limits how much more leaks out.
Can I fix a burst pipe myself?
A repair clamp or push-fit coupling can stop a small leak until a plumber arrives, but a permanent repair and a check of the rest of the line are jobs for a licensed plumber.