What to do when a pipe bursts
The first five minutes matter more than how fast anyone arrives. Here's the order.
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The first five minutes, in order
Order matters. Doing these in the wrong sequence costs you money.
- 1. Shut off the main water valve. Everything else is secondary. A half-inch supply line can put out several hundred gallons an hour.
- 2. Open the lowest faucets in the house. This drains remaining pressurized water downward and away from the break instead of out of it.
- 3. Cut power to affected areas at the breaker — but only if you can reach the panel without standing in water. If you can't, call your electric utility, or 911.
- 4. Turn off the water heater. Gas control to “pilot”; electric breaker off. Elements firing in an empty tank are destroyed within minutes.
- 5. Photograph and video everything. Before you move or mop anything. This is the step people skip and regret.
- 6. Move what you can save. Furniture, electronics, rugs, documents, anything on the floor.
- 7. Call a plumber, and call your insurer. Both today, not tomorrow.
Insurance adjusters assess from evidence. Once you've mopped, moved furniture, and pulled up carpet, the visible extent of the damage is gone permanently — and your claim is assessed on what you can prove, not what you describe. Photograph wide shots and close-ups, get video with narration, capture the source if visible, and photograph every damaged item individually. Five minutes here is routinely worth thousands.
What not to do
- Don't wait to see if it stops on its own. It won't.
- Don't walk through standing water near outlets, appliances, or a panel until power is off.
- Don't use a household vacuum on water — only a wet/dry shop vac.
- Don't throw away damaged items before the adjuster sees them or you've photographed them thoroughly.
- Don't attempt a permanent repair yourself on a pressurized line.
- Don't run the heating system if water has reached ductwork or the furnace.
Drying out matters more than people expect
Mold begins developing in 24 to 48 hours in wet building materials. Getting things dry is not cosmetic — it's the difference between a repair and a remediation.
- Get standing water out fast — shop vac, mop, buckets.
- Run fans and a dehumidifier continuously. Rent commercial units if the area is large.
- Open closet and cabinet doors so trapped air circulates.
- Pull up soaked carpet padding. Padding almost never dries usefully in place and holds water against the subfloor.
- If more than a small area is affected, call a water damage restoration company — they have moisture meters and can find water inside walls that you can't see.
Most homeowners policies cover sudden and accidental water damage, which a burst pipe usually is. They typically exclude gradual leaks, poor maintenance, and freezing in a home left unheated. Notify your insurer the same day, keep every receipt including for fans and dehumidifier rental, and don't authorize large restoration work before checking what's covered. We're a referral service, not insurance advisers — read your own policy.
Frequently asked questions
What is the first thing to do when a pipe bursts?
Shut off the main water valve. Nothing else matters until the water stops.
How much water comes out of a burst pipe?
A half-inch supply line under normal residential pressure can release several hundred gallons per hour. That is why the shutoff comes first and everything else comes second.
Does homeowners insurance cover a burst pipe?
Usually yes for sudden and accidental damage, with common exclusions for gradual leaks and for freezing in an unheated home. Document before cleanup and notify your insurer immediately.
How long do I have before mold grows?
Typically 24–48 hours in wet materials. Aggressive drying in the first day is what prevents a much larger remediation job.
Plumbing emergency right now?
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