Short answer
If a pipe bursts, shut off the main water valve first. Stay out of standing water near outlets, appliances or the panel, and call an electrician if you cannot reach the power switch from a dry spot. Photograph the damage, call a plumber and contact your insurer. Never thaw a frozen pipe with a torch or any open flame.
Do this first
- Close the main water shut-off valve. The City of Bellevue, Washington says to close it immediately to stop the flooding. If you do not have a working house valve, it says you can shut the water off at the meter.
- Cannot reach or close it? Call your water utility. Seattle Public Utilities, for example, has a 24-hour number and says a crew will shut the water off at the meter. Check your own utility's number now.
- Watch for electrical hazards. Do not enter standing water to reach the power switch. If water is near outlets, appliances or the panel and you cannot reach the switch from a dry spot, call an electrician. If you smell gas, leave and call the gas company or emergency services.
- Contain what you can. Move belongings out of the way and catch water with buckets and towels, but only where it is safe to stand.
- Take photos and video of the break, the water and the damage before you clean up.
- Call a licensed plumber. Tell them the water is off and where the break is.
- Call your insurer and ask what they need before repairs or cleanup.
- Start drying promptly. The EPA says to fix the leak promptly and dry everything completely.
Burst pipe water shut off: finding and using the valve
Find your shut-off valves before you need them. Seattle Public Utilities lists knowing where your shut-off valves are as basic frozen-pipe preparation, and the Philadelphia Water Department tells customers with a burst pipe to locate the water meter and the house-side shut-off valve and turn the water off quickly. Where the main valve sits varies by house, so walk the home when nothing is wrong. Look where the water line enters, and check the basement, crawlspace, garage or utility room.
| Valve | What it does | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| House main valve | Stops water to the whole house | Close it first if a pipe has burst. Do not force a valve that will not move. |
| Fixture shut-offs | Stop water to one sink, toilet or appliance | Useful if the break is at a fixture or a supply line. |
| Meter valve | Shuts off at the street meter | Bellevue says use a crescent wrench or meter valve key and turn clockwise if you have no working house valve. Ask your utility whether it allows customers to do this. |
Once the water is off, a plumber may tell you to open a faucet to let remaining water drain. Ask when you call. Seattle Public Utilities adds that one frozen pipe can mean others are frozen, so check the other taps.
Power and electrical safety
Water and electricity are the biggest danger in a burst pipe. The CDC says never to turn power on or off, or use an electric tool or appliance, while standing in water. It says that if standing water is in the home, you should turn off power at the main breaker only if you can reach it without entering the water. If you would have to enter the water, call an electrician. The CDC's guidance for re-entering a flooded home adds that an electrician should check the home's electrical system before the power is turned back on.
If a ceiling light fixture, outlet or appliance has been wet, treat it as unsafe until an electrician has checked it. If you smell gas, the CDC's guidance says to leave the house immediately, notify the gas company, police or fire department, and not turn on lights or do anything that could cause a spark. Call the utility or emergency services for gas and electrical emergencies. Do not try to fix them yourself.
What to do if a pipe bursts: containing the damage
- Keep water out of electrical areas. Do not wade in to move items near outlets or the panel.
- Move valuables, rugs and furniture out of the wet area when you can do so safely.
- Mop and towel up standing water where there is no electrical risk. The City of Livonia advises running wet vacuums only through a ground-fault protected outlet and not using electrical equipment while standing in water.
- Drying matters. The EPA says to dry water-damaged areas and items within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold. That guidance is for clean water. Water from a sewer line is different. See sewage backup: what to do.
- Check for hidden moisture. The EPA says repairing broken pipes and drying wet walls and flooring completely is a priority to prevent mold, so ask your plumber or a drying contractor about what may be wet inside walls and under floors.
Photos, records and insurance
Insurance rules differ, so this page does not say what any policy covers. The District of Columbia's insurance regulator advises checking the policy's exact wording and notes coverage can depend on the precautions taken, such as keeping the property heated. Call your insurer promptly and ask what they need.
- Photograph and video the burst pipe, the water and every damaged item before you clean up.
- Keep damaged items if the insurer asks you to, and list anything you throw away.
- Keep every receipt: plumber, drying equipment, hotel, new materials.
- Ask your plumber to write down what failed and where. A short written note and photos help the claim.
- Do not authorize large repairs before asking the insurer what they require.
Frozen pipe burst: thawing without open flame
A frozen pipe may not have burst yet. If you turn a tap and only a trickle comes out, suspect a frozen pipe. Seattle Public Utilities says to keep the faucet open while you thaw so water can flow as the ice melts, and that you should check other faucets too.
The EPA says not to thaw pipes with a torch and instead to thaw them slowly with warm air from an electric hair dryer. Seattle Public Utilities warns that a blowtorch can make water in a frozen pipe boil and cause the pipe to explode, and lists open flames such as blowtorches, kerosene or propane heaters and charcoal stoves as things to avoid. The District of Columbia regulator's advice is blunt: never use a blow torch or direct fire. Seattle also says not to use electrical devices if there is standing water.
Utilities differ in detail. The City of Bellevue advises against open flame or electric devices and suggests wrapping the pipe in rags and pouring hot water over them. The Philadelphia Water Department advises warming the area around pipes and not applying direct heat to the pipe. Follow your own utility's guidance. If you cannot find or reach the frozen section, or it will not thaw, call a licensed plumber. Once water flows again, check for leaks, because Bellevue notes that a break may only show once the water is moving.
When a burst pipe is an emergency
| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| You cannot stop the water | Call the water utility's emergency line and an emergency plumber now |
| Water near outlets, appliances or the panel | Stay out of it. Call an electrician or emergency services |
| Gas smell | Leave and call the gas company or emergency services |
| Flooding in finished living space | Water off, photos, call a plumber and your insurer promptly |
| A slow leak at one fixture you have isolated | Water off at that fixture; book a plumber |
When in doubt, treat it as an emergency, shut the water off, and call. For the call itself, clogged drain: what to try yourself and when to call a plumber shows how to judge between DIY and a plumber for drain problems.
Burst pipe repair: what the plumber does and who is responsible
A plumber will find the break, repair or replace the damaged section and look for other weak spots. Ask what caused it, such as freezing, age or corrosion, and whether other pipes carry the same risk. Responsibility for the pipe depends on where it is. The utility owns part of the supply line and the owner owns the rest, but where the line is drawn varies, so ask your utility where its responsibility ends. A sewer or drain pipe break is a different job from a supply pipe. See main sewer line location for the sewer side.
Preventing frozen and burst pipes
- Insulate exposed pipes in attics, basements and garages, and lines along exterior walls (Seattle, EPA).
- Drain and shut off outdoor spigots and disconnect hoses before freezing weather (EPA, Seattle).
- In deep cold, open cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls and let a faucet drip. Seattle suggests the one farthest from the front door.
- Keep the heat on. Seattle advises a thermostat no lower than 55 degrees Fahrenheit, day and night.
- If the home will be empty with no heat, the District of Columbia regulator says to shut off the water, drain the plumbing and appliances, and have a neighbor check the property if possible.
- Know your valves and test them once a year.
For a full seasonal list, including septic, use our winter plumbing and septic checklist.
What to look up where you live
- Your water utility: its 24-hour emergency number, where its responsibility ends, and whether customers may operate the meter valve.
- State or provincial plumbing or contractor licensing board: to confirm a plumber's licence and check complaints.
- Your insurance agent or state or provincial insurance regulator: how to start a claim and what documents they need.
- County or municipal emergency management: local winter-weather guidance.
For Canadian readers. Plumbing is regulated by each province or territory, and municipalities set their own water utility rules. Check your provincial regulator and your city. Costs are in Canadian dollars and cannot be compared directly with US figures.
For plumbing, drain and septic company owners
A burst pipe is an urgent search, usually made from a phone with water already on the floor. The company that answers first and is easy to find tends to win the job. See emergency plumber marketing and plumber missed calls, or book a call with LiveLeadsLane. LiveLeadsLane is a marketing practice for contractors, not a directory, and it does not take jobs or refer homeowners.
