A burst pipe can release a lot of water quickly. The order matters: stop the water, protect people from electricity, then deal with drying and the claim.
Go to the main water shutoff and turn it off. Know where it is before an emergency, because a burst pipe is no time to search. If you live in an apartment without access to the main valve, contact your landlord or building manager right away and warn neighbors below you.
After the main is off, open the cold and hot taps in the house to drain the lines, switch off the water heater and flush toilets to clear residual water. That reduces what continues to come out of the break. Then call a plumber, and expect delays during a cold snap when many people need one.
Water and electricity do not mix. If the leak reaches outlets, light fixtures or the electrical panel, turn off power to the affected areas, but only if you can reach the breaker without standing in water. If you cannot, leave and call an electrician or the utility. Our basement flood guide goes through electrical safety in more detail.
Check ceilings for bulges or sagging. Water can pool above a ceiling, and a ceiling can drop without warning. Stay out from under it, and get your family and pets out of the area if there is any danger of collapse.
Frozen pipes that have not yet cracked can sometimes be thawed. Keep the faucet open so water can flow as the ice melts. Use a hair dryer or towels soaked in hot water. Never use an open flame to thaw a pipe, and leave space heaters and heat tape to professionals because of the fire risk.
A pipe that is leaking should not be thawed by you. Shut off the water, call a plumber and keep your hands off it. If you cannot find where the pipe froze, or it is inside a wall, a plumber has the tools to find it.
Once it is safe, remove standing water with a wet/dry vacuum, mops or towels, unless your insurer asks you to wait. For more than a small amount, a rental pump or extractor saves time. Burst supply pipes release clean water at first, usually category 1, but time can change that, as explained in the categories guide.
Then dry the structure. Open cabinet doors, pull furniture off wet floors and set up air movers and a dehumidifier. Wet materials need attention within 24 to 48 hours, according to EPA guidance, to prevent mold, and wet drywall and insulation may have to be opened up. See how to dry out a flooded room for the sequence.
After the situation is safe and standing water is under control, contact your insurance agent or claims line to ask whether your policy covers the damage and to start a claim. Agents can often recommend plumbers and cleanup crews, and coverage terms for frozen pipes differ by policy and by state.
Walk through and note every area with damage. Take photos and video, keep the broken section of pipe if you can and keep every receipt for repairs and equipment. Our documentation guide has a full checklist.
Once repaired, ask the plumber why the pipe froze. Pipes in exterior walls, attics, crawl spaces and unheated garages are common trouble spots. Insulating them, sealing air leaks and keeping the building heated during extended absences are standard measures. Local codes and practices on pipe protection vary with climate, so ask a licensed plumber what applies where you live.
The most damaging mistake is waiting. Every minute a burst pipe runs adds water, so locate the main shutoff and use it before you do anything else. The next is stepping into a wet area where electricity is present. The third is using flame, such as a torch or lighter, to thaw a line, which can start a fire inside a wall.
Another mistake is assuming the problem is over once the pipe is repaired. Water from a burst pipe soaks insulation, drywall and floors, and if it is left in place it keeps causing damage. Begin removal and drying immediately after the water is stopped.
A burst supply pipe often produces clean water, which makes it a reasonable candidate for rental equipment if the affected area is limited and you can remove the free water quickly. Larger bursts that soak ceilings, run down walls or reach finished basements may need professionals, and your insurer may have a preferred approach.
Describe the situation in the home-page request form and we will tell you what we can provide. Ask for rental terms in writing and keep them with your claim records.
Before the next cold snap, find and label your main water shutoff, test that it turns, and tell everyone in the household where it is. Know where the breaker panel is too, and keep a flashlight nearby. In an extended cold spell, let a faucet drip if a plumber in your area recommends it, and open cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls so room air can reach the pipes. Local advice varies with climate and building type, so ask a licensed plumber what fits your home. If you are away from the property when a pipe bursts, ask a neighbor or property manager to shut off the main, and consider asking a plumber to meet you there. The sooner the water stops, the less there is to dry. For rental properties, tenants should tell the landlord immediately and document damage to their own belongings, since landlord and tenant responsibilities differ by state and lease.
Shut off the main water valve. Then open the taps to drain the lines, turn off the water heater and call a plumber.
Turn off power to affected areas if you can do so without standing in water. If you cannot, leave and call the utility or an electrician.
No. Never use an open flame. A hair dryer or hot towels are safer for pipes that have not burst.
Coverage depends on the policy and state. Contact your insurer after the situation is safe and ask what is covered.
Tell us what is wet and what you need, and we will reply with availability and terms.