What to Do When a Pipe Bursts

A burst pipe is a true home emergency. Water damage spreads fast - within minutes it's in the walls and floors; within hours it can reach adjacent rooms and affect structural materials. Speed matters. Here's the exact sequence to follow.

Step 1: Shut Off the Water Immediately

Your first action is stopping the water.

For a localized failure (a supply line to a toilet, faucet, or washing machine): There's usually a shutoff valve at the fixture. Turn it clockwise to close. This isolates the affected area without cutting water to the whole house.

If you can't isolate it or don't know the source: Go to the main shutoff. In California homes, the main water shutoff is typically: - At the front of the house near the street (curb stop, requires a special tool to operate) - At the water meter (outside, often in a small box in the ground) - Inside the house at the main entry point (often in the garage, utility room, or crawlspace)

Know where your main shutoff is before you ever need it. This is not the time to be searching.

Turn off the main shutoff to stop all water into the house.

Step 2: Turn Off the Water Heater

With the water supply off, turn off the water heater. For a gas heater, turn the dial to "Pilot." For an electric heater, turn off the circuit breaker. A water heater trying to heat with no water supply can burn out the heating element.

Step 3: Open Faucets to Drain the System

Open a cold water faucet at the highest and lowest points of the house. This drains remaining water from the pipes and reduces further leakage from the burst point.

Step 4: Contain the Damage

While calling for help: - Place buckets under active drips - Use towels or mops to soak up standing water - Move electronics, rugs, and furniture out of wet areas - If water has reached electrical outlets or panels, do not go near standing water - cut power to the affected area at the circuit breaker first

Step 5: Call a Licensed Plumber

When you call: - Describe what happened (pipe location, type, what you see) - Confirm you've already shut off the water - Ask about estimated arrival time - Ask whether you should do anything else before they arrive

Step 6: Document the Damage

Before cleanup begins and before the plumber arrives, take photos and video of everything: - The burst pipe or failure point - All water damage - floors, walls, ceilings, furniture - Any visible mold or discoloration from previous water (helps establish the timeline)

This documentation is essential for your homeowner's insurance claim.

Step 7: Contact Your Insurance Company

Call your homeowner's insurance to report a water damage claim. Most homeowner's policies cover sudden and accidental water damage from burst pipes. They typically do not cover damage from: - Gradual leaks you knew about and didn't fix - Flooding from outside (requires separate flood insurance)

Report immediately - delay can complicate claims processing.

Step 8: Begin Drying (Don't Wait for Mold)

While waiting for the plumber and the insurance adjuster, begin drying. Mold can begin growing within 24-48 hours of water damage.

• Open windows and run fans to move air
• Use a wet-dry shop vac to remove standing water
• If you have a dehumidifier, run it
• Pull up wet rugs and move them outside to dry

If the water damage is extensive (more than one room), professional water damage mitigation services are worth calling. They have industrial drying equipment and experience with mold prevention.

Common Causes of Burst Pipes in California

Freeze events: In foothill and mountain areas, overnight freezes can burst pipes in uninsulated crawlspaces or exterior walls. Prevention: insulate exposed pipes before winter.

Old galvanized pipe: Older California homes with galvanized steel pipes experience corrosion-induced failures. If your home has original galvanized plumbing, a pipe assessment by a plumber is worth doing proactively.

Water hammer: Sudden pressure spikes from fast-closing solenoid valves (dishwashers, washing machines) can stress older pipe fittings. A water hammer arrestor fixes this.

Excessive water pressure: Normal household pressure is 40-80 PSI. Above 80 PSI consistently can cause joint failures. A pressure gauge (cheap) and a pressure regulator (installed by a plumber) solve this.

Bottom Line

Burst pipe sequence: shut off the water at the fixture or main, turn off the water heater, drain faucets, contain the damage, call a plumber immediately, document everything, call your insurance company. Speed is the variable you control - the faster you stop the water, the less damage occurs.

Sources and editorial notes

Prices and permit requirements vary by location, property, equipment, and scope. Treat price ranges as planning estimates and confirm current requirements with the relevant authority and contractor.

• California Contractors State License Board - when a contractor license is required
• US Department of Energy - Energy Saver
• US Environmental Protection Agency - home, indoor air, and water guidance

Related guides

• How to Shut Off Your Home's Water in an Emergency
• How to Find a Water Leak Before It Becomes a Flood
• How to Fix a Leaking Pipe Under the Sink

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