Burst Pipe: What to Do Right Now (and What Comes Next)

If a pipe bursts in your house, shut off the main water valve first. The Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I) says that if your pipes burst, you should first turn off the water and then mop up (Triple-I ↗).

After that, make the area electrically safe, document the damage, call a plumber and your insurer, and start drying. Here's how to do each step.

Step 1: Shut off the water

Every minute counts, because a burst pipe keeps pushing water into your home until the supply is off.

• Use the main shut-off valve. Triple-I recommends knowing where your main water shut-off valve is before an emergency, because closing it quickly limits damage (Triple-I ↗).
• Turn the valve fully closed, then check that water has stopped flowing from the break.
• If you can't find or turn the valve, call a plumber right away.

If only one fixture is leaking, a local valve under the sink, behind the toilet or behind the washer may stop it. A pipe inside a wall or ceiling usually needs the main valve.

Step 2: Make electricity safe

Water from a burst pipe often runs through ceilings and into light fixtures and outlets.

• The CDC says that if circuits or equipment got wet, turn off power at the main breaker or fuse box. If you'd have to stand in water to reach it, call an electrician instead, and never switch power on or off while standing in water (CDC ↗).
• Stay out of rooms where the ceiling is sagging from water weight. If a ceiling looks ready to fall or you smell gas, leave the house and call 911 or your gas utility. The CDC advises leaving right away and contacting emergency authorities if you suspect a gas leak (CDC ↗).

Step 3: Document the damage

Before you clean up, take photos and video. The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) recommends photographing the damage, listing damaged property, keeping damaged items until the adjuster sees them, making only the repairs needed to prevent more damage, and saving every receipt (TDI claim guide ↗).

Get close-ups of the broken section of pipe. Ask your plumber to keep the failed piece and to describe in writing what failed and why. That note can help if your insurer questions the cause.

Step 4: Call a plumber and your insurer

Report the claim as soon as you can. TDI says you usually must report water damage hidden from view within days after you first see it (TDI ↗).

A plumber fixes the pipe. A restoration company handles the water damage. More on that difference below.

Step 5: Start drying within 24-48 hours

The EPA says water-damaged areas and items should be dried within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold (EPA ↗). TDI warns that mold can start growing within a day after a leak (TDI ↗).

• Remove standing water and pull up wet rugs and carpet.
• Move furniture and belongings out of the wet area.
• Open cabinets under sinks and any wet closets to let air in.
• Use fans and a dehumidifier once the electricity is safe.

Burst pipes often soak the inside of walls and ceilings, where you can't see or feel the moisture. The EPA notes that porous materials like drywall, insulation and carpet are very hard to fully clean, and that if they have been wet for more than 48 hours, it is generally best to remove and replace them (EPA worker guide ↗). For the full checklist, see what to do after water damage and how long water damage takes to dry.

Frozen pipes: why they burst and how to prevent it

The American Red Cross explains that water expands as it freezes, putting enormous pressure on metal or plastic pipes until they break. The pipes that freeze most often are those exposed to severe cold (outdoor hose bibs, pool and sprinkler lines), pipes in unheated areas like basements, crawl spaces, attics, garages and kitchen cabinets, and pipes along poorly insulated exterior walls (Red Cross ↗).

Before cold weather

• Remove, drain and store outdoor hoses, and close the inside valves that feed outdoor faucets (Red Cross ↗).
• Insulate pipes in unheated areas with pipe sleeves, or use UL-listed heat tape or heat cable (Red Cross ↗). Triple-I recommends heating cables with built-in thermostats (Triple-I ↗).
• Ready.gov recommends sealing drafts and adding insulation to help keep pipes from freezing (Ready.gov ↗).

During a cold snap

• Keep the heat steady. The Red Cross says to keep the thermostat at the same temperature day and night, and to set it no lower than 55°F if you go away (Red Cross ↗). Triple-I recommends at least 65°F, warning that a lower setting may not keep the inside of walls from freezing (Triple-I ↗).
• Let faucets drip. Running water, even a trickle, helps prevent freezing (Red Cross ↗).
• Open cabinet doors under kitchen and bathroom sinks so warm air reaches the pipes, and keep garage doors closed if water lines run through the garage (Red Cross ↗).
• Going away for a long time? Triple-I suggests having a professional drain the water system (Triple-I ↗).

If a pipe is frozen but not burst

If you turn on a faucet and only a trickle comes out, suspect a frozen pipe. The Red Cross says to keep the faucet open and apply gentle heat with a heating pad, hair dryer, a space heater kept away from flammable materials, or towels soaked in hot water. Never use a blowtorch, kerosene or propane heater, charcoal stove or any open flame. Call a licensed plumber if you can't find the frozen section, can't reach it, or can't thaw it (Red Cross ↗).

Ready.gov also warns never to heat your home with a gas stovetop or oven (Ready.gov ↗).

Is a burst pipe covered by insurance?

Often, yes. Most policies cover water damage that is sudden and accidental (TDI ↗). Triple-I says the standard HO-3 homeowners policy covers accidental discharge of water from a plumbing system (Triple-I ↗), and its coverage table lists freezing of plumbing among the covered perils in most policy types (Triple-I ↗).

Watch for these limits:

• Gradual leaks. Damage from a slow leak or seepage is generally excluded (TDI ↗).
• Reasonable care with frozen pipes. The NAIC says policies often cover water damage from frozen pipes that burst if the homeowner took reasonable steps to keep them from freezing, and generally require shutting off the water supply if the home is vacant (NAIC ↗). Maryland's insurance regulator adds that policies generally require keeping the home at a minimum temperature, and that if the insurer finds you neglected preventive steps, the damage may not be covered (Maryland Insurance Administration ↗).
• The pipe itself. Whether your policy pays to replace the broken pipe, or only the water damage it caused, depends on your policy wording. Ask your insurer.

Policies and state rules differ, so read your own policy. For more detail, see this guide to burst pipe and freeze claims ↗. If a claim is denied and you disagree, your state insurance department or an attorney can help.

Plumber vs. restoration company: who do you call?

You may need both, and they do different jobs.

A small leak caught quickly may only need a plumber and some fans. Call a restoration company if water soaked into walls, ceilings or subfloors, spread across several rooms, or can't be dried within 24 to 48 hours. See water damage restoration cost for what drives the price.

When hiring, the FTC advises confirming a contractor's license and insurance, getting a written contract, avoiding cash or wire payments, and never signing your insurance check over to a contractor (FTC ↗). License rules vary by state: see Texas, Florida and New York, and does a restoration company need a license.

You can browse restoration companies or Get matched with restoration companies near you.

Frequently asked questions

What's the first thing to do when a pipe bursts?

Turn off the water at the main shut-off valve. Triple-I says to turn off the water first, then mop up (Triple-I ↗).

Can I use the electricity after a pipe bursts?

Not in wet areas until it's safe. The CDC says to turn off power at the main breaker if circuits got wet, and to call an electrician if reaching the panel means standing in water (CDC ↗).

How do I thaw a frozen pipe safely?

Keep the faucet open and use gentle heat, such as a hair dryer or heating pad. The Red Cross warns never to use an open flame (Red Cross ↗).

Does homeowners insurance cover a frozen pipe that burst?

Often, if you took reasonable steps to prevent freezing. Policies may require keeping the heat on or shutting off the water in a vacant home (NAIC ↗).

What temperature should I keep my house to prevent frozen pipes?

The Red Cross says no lower than 55°F when you're away (Red Cross ↗). Triple-I recommends at least 65°F (Triple-I ↗).

Do I need a plumber or a restoration company?

Usually a plumber for the pipe and, if water soaked into walls, floors or ceilings, a restoration company for drying. Both should be called quickly.