If a pipe bursts, shut off the water as soon as you can do so safely. Then stay clear of electrical hazards, protect what you can, take photos of the damage, and call a plumber. You do not need to find or fix the broken pipe before you call.
A burst pipe can send a lot of water into a home. Acting in this order can help limit the damage while you wait for help.
First, shut off the water
Find your home’s main water shutoff valve and turn it off. It is often near where the water line enters the home. If you do not know where it is, look for it before an emergency happens and make sure other adults in the home know its location.
If you can see that the water is coming from one fixture, that fixture may have its own shutoff valve. But if you cannot tell where the pipe broke, use the main valve.
Do not spend several minutes searching in a flooded area. If you cannot reach the valve safely, move to a safe place and call for help. Once the water is off, do not turn it back on just to check whether the leak has stopped.
Next, watch for electrical danger
Water and electricity are a dangerous mix. Stay out of any water near outlets, cords, lights, or the electrical panel. Do not touch wet switches or plugs.
If you think water has reached electrical equipment, keep everyone away from that area. Get help from the right professional before entering it or using the power there again. Your safety matters more than saving an item on the floor.
Protect your things and record the damage
After the water is off, move rugs, boxes, and other belongings away from the wet area if you can do it safely. Put a bucket under a drip if that helps. Towels may help with a small amount of clean water, but do not enter an unsafe area to clean up.
Take photos or a short video of the pipe, the water, and anything that got wet. Write down when you first saw the leak and when you shut off the water. This gives you a record of what happened.
Call a plumber while the details are fresh. Tell them where you see water, whether the main valve is off, and whether water is near any electrical equipment.
What will the plumber check?
The plumber needs to find the broken pipe and see how much of it is damaged. A pipe may have split at one spot, or there may be trouble with a fitting or another part of the line. The plumber can explain the repair after checking the pipe.
The estimate depends on where the break is, how easy the pipe is to reach, and how much pipe needs work. A pipe behind a wall may take more work to reach than an open pipe under a sink. Ask what needs to be repaired before the water can be turned back on.
Roy’s Rooter handles burst pipes as an emergency plumbing concern and serves homes in Lebanon, OH.
How can you lower the risk when it freezes?
Cold weather can put pipes at risk, especially in places with little heat. Keep your home heated during a cold spell. Know which pipes run through cold spaces, such as an unheated garage or crawl space. Ask a plumber about ways to protect any pipes that have frozen before.
Find and test the location of your main shutoff valve before you need it. You should be able to get to it without moving heavy boxes or tools. That one step can save time if a pipe breaks again.
Common questions
Should I turn the water back on after the leak stops?
Wait until the broken pipe has been checked and repaired. Turning the water back on may start the leak again.
What if I cannot find the main shutoff valve?
Stay out of any unsafe water and call for help. Tell the plumber that the water is still on so they know what is happening.
Dealing with a burst pipe in Lebanon?
Call Roy’s Rooter at 513-202-6990 or request an estimate.
