10 Things to Do When a Pipe Bursts in Your Home
Don’t panic—you’ve got this
That’s strange—there’s water all over the floor, but no one has spilled anything. Running through your troubleshooting checklist, you confirm that none of the faucets are leaking and the shower is off. Puzzled, you look to the walls, and there it is—an enormous wet spot spreading. Yep, a pipe has burst.
Don’t start panicking yet. With some quick action, you can prevent a complete plumbing disaster. In this guide, we’ll explain exactly what to do if a pipe bursts in your house.
Why Do Pipes Burst?
So you noticed you have a burst pipe, but what could cause this? Since a long-term problem is more common in a pipe than a sudden incident, a few things could have caused this unfortunate issue. Some common causes for a burst pipe include:
A clogged pipe: A clogged pipe can result in increased water pressure around a clog. When the clog is so severe that water cannot move around it, extreme water pressure can cause the pipe to burst.
A frozen pipe: If you live in a cold climate, you might be familiar with your pipes freezing. When temperatures drop below freezing, the existing water in the pipes freezes. The freezing water expands and eventually becomes too much for the pipe to contain, leading to a burst.
Pipe movement: Accidental movement in your pipes could be the culprit of a burst pipe. Shifts could happen due to plumbing repairs, cold weather, or shaking from increased water pressure.
A corroded pipe: Corrosion in your pipes happens over time, either due to rust or an imbalance in your water's pH levels or hardness. Eventually, corrosion can compromise the strength of the pipe and cause a leak or full-on burst.
Old age: Unfortunately, your plumbing pipework won’t last forever. Age is a big culprit in leaks and burst pipes because copper pipes and even PVC pipes wear down over time.
Signs a Pipe Burst in Your Home
Contrary to popular belief, pipes don’t make a loud sound and spray water when they burst (although it’s a possibility). The signs are actually more subtle.
Here are a few things to keep an eye out for so you’re more likely to know when a pipe bursts:
Increased water bills
Discoloration in your water
Inconsistent water flow
Weird noises from your pipework
Puddles of water
Foul water odors
Mold on and around your walls
Water stains on the walls
What to Do When Pipes Burst in Your House
If you’ve noticed any of the above signs, you may have a broken water pipe. Let’s look at practical ways to deal with the situation.
1. Turn Off the Water Supply
First things first: turn off your water supply to help prevent further water damage. You can usually find the valve in your basement, in a crawl space, or close to your water heater.
If you can’t find it in the interior, check the outside of your home, near the water meter.
Since it’s rarely closed, you’ll need a little elbow grease to close it. You can also consider turning off your electricity for significant leaks. Water can travel toward your electrical sockets or fuse box, which can be hazardous to your household.
In some municipalities, water meters and main shut-offs are buried and require special tools to access. If that’s the case, try to shut off the water supply to the area that’s leaking by turning local shut-offs—like those extending from your tank or tankless water heater or boiler, or speedy valves located under most fixtures. Call a plumber right away to shut off the water main. Certified plumbers should have the tools required to access and turn off buried water main shut-offs.
2. Drain the Taps
After shutting off the water supply, drain the faucets to prevent them from freezing, especially if you have shut the electricity off in your home
As you do that, flush your toilet multiple times to relieve pressure on your system. Turn off the water heater for the hot water taps, but leave any faucets or taps "open" so pressure cannot build up in the fixtures.
3. Locate the Leak
Once the taps are off, it’s time to do your best Sherlock Holmes impression and find the leak. It could be anywhere—the ensuite bathroom, kitchen, or basement. But the quicker you locate the problem area, the easier it is to minimize damage.
Be cautious throughout your search, inspecting every nook and cranny. Look for bulging ceilings and floors or water spots in your walls. If you locate the leak, try plugging it with rags to prevent further water damage. Where there’s a drip, place a bucket underneath to limit damage to your floors.
4. Turn up the Heat
If you haven’t shut the electricity off, turn up the heat in your home if there’s any risk of the pipes freezing due to inclement weather. The area behind your walls where your pipes sit will be colder than your actual living space, so don’t hesitate to bump the heat up to 80 degrees (F) to help reduce the risk of pipes freezing.
5. Call a Professional
Now that you’ve located the leak and initiated preventative measures, it’s time to call and hire an emergency plumbing service. Hiring a plumber costs about $45 to $200 per hour, depending on the work needed and your location. The average cost to repair a burst pipe comes out to $500, but it can sit as low as $100 to repair a leaky faucet or go as high as $5,000 if you need to replace a sewer line underground or take care of related water damage.
6. Start Cleaning
As things start to calm down, clean areas affected by the leak. When water sits unattended for some time, it leaves room for mold and mildew to grow.
Grab your mop or some rags and clear the water quickly. Salvage essential belongings and move furniture around to find water in hidden spots. Open windows to let fresh air speed up the drying process (weather permitting).
7. Document the Damage
As you clean, document any damage. Your home insurance policy might cover water damage, but you’ll need evidence to support it.
Take pictures of affected areas, items, and where the leak started. Don’t toss anything just yet; the more information available, the higher the chance of a successful claim.
8. Dehumidify
Cleaning isn’t as simple as mopping up visible water. Water can soak into unexpected places that struggle to dry on their own. This fosters mold growth—which can be a very expensive and potentially dangerous problem once it spreads. Don’t give spores a chance. Set up dehumidifiers and fans around the leak to help with the drying process. If a leak behind a wall is identified and you open up the drywall to access it for repair, aim a drying fan or dehumidifier directly into the wall opening to target the most likely place for mold to grow.
9. Replace the Pipe
If you have plumbing expertise, you can replace the damaged portion of the pipe on your own. This involves using a pipe cutter to cut out the broken section of the pipe, installing a repair sleeve, and soldering it in place. If you go this route, make sure you’ve drained the pipe and shut off your main water supply.
Only repair pipes if you know exactly what you’re doing. Otherwise, call a local plumber or a faucet repair specialist near you rather than risk further water damage from an additional leak.
10. Insulate Your Pipes
After you’ve fixed your broken water pipe, it’s time to safeguard your home from further damage by insulating your most vulnerable pipes, especially if your pipe bursts from freezing. There are a few different pipe insulation materials you can use, but make sure whatever you choose can handle heat. For example, foam performs well with cold pipes, but rubber works for pipes that are hot and cold.
Tips for Preventing a Burst Pipe
The best (and easiest) way to navigate a burst pipe is to prevent one from happening in the first place. While you cannot prevent old age, there are a few ways to help prolong the life of your plumbing pipes and avoid the hassle of a pipe that has burst.
1. Heat Things Up
Typically, a pipe will burst when water freezes within the pipe. If you notice your faucet has a low flow, there are steps to take to remedy a frozen pipe. Heat up the most vulnerable pipes with a hair dryer or space heater. These pipes are typically found in:
Basements
Crawl spaces
Near exterior walls
You can also use a fan to direct heat from your home into those rooms and towards the pipes.
If ice in your pipes gets to the point at which it’s causing a total blockage, call a plumber instead of trying to thaw the pipe yourself. You could end up doing additional damage.
2. Air It Out
Often, exposed pipes are hidden in closets and cabinets or under sinks. When the temperature dips, these places don’t have direct access to your home’s heating, which leaves them vulnerable to freezing and bursting. To heat up the pipes, open all cabinet and closet doors to promote the flow of warm air. This is a great strategy for preventing frozen pipes when you’re away on vacation.
3. Keep Taps Flowing
Stagnant water is more likely to freeze than water in motion. When outdoor temperatures are particularly frigid, leave your taps dripping at a very low flow. It may not save money on your utility bills, but water costs less than a burst pipe.
4. Set the Thermostat
To prevent frozen pipes, don’t turn off your thermostat during cold weather—even if you’re not home. Instead, consider keeping your home warmer in the colder months—the Department of Energy suggests a thermostat setting of 68 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter. This is true even of seldom-used spaces in your home, like an unfinished basement or attic.
If you want to up your home’s energy efficiency, opt for a smart thermostat that you can adjust from afar depending on the weather forecast.
DIY Fixing a Burst Pipe vs. Hiring a Pro
For the sake of preventing serious damage, it's wise to seek emergency plumbing services if you've discovered a burst pipe in your home. This issue should be fixed as quickly as possible to avoid water damage that can lead to mold and rot. An experienced plumber can diagnose the root cause of the burst pipe, identify the extent of the damage, isolate the damage, and get to work on a plan for repairs and remediation. While the idea of a DIY fix might be appealing if you want to avoid an emergency plumber cost, spending time trying to diagnose the issue on your own could waste valuable time while water damage spreads throughout your home. The average cost to repair a burst pipe is $500. However, homeowners can expect to pay between $150 and $5,000 based on the extent of the issue. If you end up needing to install new underground pipes or remediate water damage, costs can be on the higher side.
Dan Simms contributed to this piece.
Frequently Asked Questions
There’s no way around it—a burst pipe is often a homeowner’s worst nightmare, and the situation can range from semi-serious to dire. If you don’t catch the leak, it can lead to thousands of dollars worth of water damage. At best, you’ll notice a burst pipe quickly, turn off your water supply, and use a wet vacuum to clean up minor flooding. A plumber can repair the pipe, and you won’t be left with a major bill. At worst, severe water damage can collapse floors, ceilings, walls, and foundations, sometimes leading to major repairs and renovations.
Sometimes when a pipe bursts in a house, it makes a clang or popping noise; however, that doesn’t mean you’ll hear it. Newer pipes tend to be quieter than older pipes. Plus, a pipe can easily burst out of earshot, especially if it’s a floor or two away from you.
If you do hear an unusual popping noise, consider hiring a plumber to inspect your pipes. Most of the time, you’re more likely to notice a burst pipe either from a visible leak or because water won’t run out of your tap properly.
Pipes most often burst during winter and early spring because those seasons experience the coldest temperatures that can freeze pipes. Pipes typically begin to freeze when the outside temperature falls below 20 degrees Fahrenheit—but it’s not a hard and fast rule. The largest risk is any period of time when outdoor temperatures fall below freezing for six hours or more. That’s an average winter night in many areas of the United States, so it’s best to take precautions before winter begins, like insulating your pipes.
A pipe burst will cause a portion of the water flowing into your home to escape through the damaged area, but some water is still likely to flow to your plumbing fixtures. If you’re noticing reduced water pressure or the slow flow of water from your sinks, you might have a burst pipe on your hands, especially if the weather is particularly cold outside. When in doubt, call in a plumber to inspect your system and check for leaks.
The answer will depend on the specifics of your homeowner's insurance policy. If you're wondering what to do if a pipe bursts, the answer is to contact your homeowner's insurance representative right after you call a plumber. Generally, any accidental water damage that occurs as a result of a sudden and unexpected incident is covered. In addition to covering replacement and repair costs directly related to the affected plumbing, your policy may also cover repairs or replacements of drywall, wood flooring, or damaged objects in your home. Consult your insurance company to see what's covered under your plan. If you signed up for a contract, it's important to remember that many plumbing service contracts may provide discounts for a major repair like this.