Burst pipe? What to do in the first ten minutes
The first few minutes after a pipe bursts decide how much damage it does. Stop the water first, then protect the house, then call.
1. Stop the water
If the leak is at a fixture, close its shutoff valve. If you cannot find the source or the valve does not work, close the main water shutoff. If you have not found your main shutoff yet, it is usually where the line enters the house or at the meter.
2. Protect the house
- If water is near outlets, appliances or the electrical panel, stay clear and shut off power only if you can do so safely
- Move furniture, rugs and valuables out of the water
- Start removing standing water with towels, buckets or a wet vac
- Take photos for your records
3. Open a faucet
With the main closed, opening a faucet at the lowest point in the house drains the water still in the pipes, so less of it ends up at the break.
Close the valve first. Everything else goes faster once the water has stopped.
4. Call for help
Emergency plumbing support is available 24/7, weekends included. Call and we will tell you the soonest realistic arrival window and what to do in the meantime. See emergency plumbing for what we handle.
