What to do when a pipe bursts

First steps, in order

1. 1

   Shut off the water

   Close the shutoff valve closest to the leak. If you cannot find it or it fails, close the main shutoff, usually where the supply enters the home, near the water meter or in a basement, crawl space or utility area.

2. 2

   Keep clear of electricity

   If water is near outlets, appliances or the electrical panel, do not touch them or stand in that water. Switch off power at the breaker only if you can reach it from a dry, safe place.

3. 3

   Relieve the pressure

   With the supply off, open a cold tap at the lowest point of the home to drain remaining water from the pipes.

4. 4

   Limit the spread

   Move belongings away, soak up standing water you can reach safely, and put a bucket under active drips.

5. 5

   Record what happened

   Photograph the pipe and any damage before cleanup. Photos help the plumber and any later insurance conversation.

What to tell the plumber

• Where the pipe is (wall, ceiling, under a sink, outside, crawl space) and whether it is visible
• Whether the water is fully off, and which valve you closed
• Whether the pipe froze, split, or a fitting or supply hose failed, if you know
• Which rooms, ceilings or floors are wet
• Your ZIP code and how quickly you need someone

The plumbing request form asks for these details, so you only describe the problem once.

If walls, floors or ceilings are soaked

A plumber repairs the pipe. Drying wet structure and preventing mold is separate work; see water damage and mold remediation help.