We are paid when readers call a provider through this site. That never changes our advice. How we make money

Quick answer

Shut off your main water valve right away, then open a few faucets to drain the lines. If water is near outlets, cords or the electrical panel, stay out of it. Call a plumber to fix the pipe, and if water soaked walls, ceilings or floors, get them dry within 24 to 48 hours [9]. Take photos before cleanup and call your insurer.

Do this first: the first 15 minutes

A burst pipe keeps pouring water until you stop it. State Farm says even a small crack in a pipe can release over 250 gallons of water a day [1]. Work through these steps in order.

  1. Check for electrical danger. If water is near outlets, cords, appliances or the electrical panel, do not walk into it.
  2. Close the main water shutoff valve. Turn a round wheel clockwise until it stops, or turn a lever a quarter turn clockwise.
  3. Open faucets around the house to drain the water left in the pipes. State Farm advises shutting off the main valve and leaving faucets open after a burst. [1]
  4. If you can reach the breaker panel from a dry spot with dry hands, turn off power to the wet area.
  5. Keep everyone out from under any ceiling that sags, bulges or drips.
  6. Take photos and video of the water, the broken pipe and damaged items.
  7. Move rugs, furniture and electronics out of the water and start soaking up what you can reach.
  8. Call a plumber about the pipe and call your insurance company.

Water near electricity

If water is near outlets, cords or the electrical panel, do not enter the water. Turn power off at the panel only if you can reach it from a dry spot. Otherwise call your electric utility or an electrician. The Electrical Safety Foundation warns never to touch a breaker or fuse with wet hands or while standing on a wet surface [2].

Where is the main water shutoff valve, and how do you turn it?

The main shutoff valve controls water to the whole house. The small valves under sinks and behind toilets only stop water to one fixture [3].

The Saving Water Partnership, a group of Seattle-area water utilities, says it can be indoors or outdoors, usually in a basement, crawlspace or garage [4]. A Southern California water district says it is typically outside in the yard or in the garage [3]. Follow the water line to where it enters the house.

  • Gate valve (round wheel): turn clockwise until the water is off. [3]
  • Ball valve (straight lever): turn a quarter turn clockwise. [3]
  • Meter box valve: many meter boxes near the street hold a customer shutoff valve between the meter and your house. A quarter turn clockwise closes it [3].

Open a faucet to confirm the flow has stopped. After the repair, open the valve slowly, because opening it too fast can damage pipes [3]. If you cannot find the valve or it will not move, call your water utility. If your home has no shutoff valve, the Saving Water Partnership suggests having a plumber install one [4].

Find the burst and get the water out

With the water off, follow the wet trail to its highest point. Check exposed pipes in the basement, crawlspace, garage, attic and under sinks. The Red Cross names unheated spaces like these, plus pipes along poorly insulated outside walls, as where pipes freeze most often [5].

Some breaks hide inside a wall or ceiling. Signs include a growing stain, bubbling paint, soft drywall, and the sound of running water when every tap is off. Your water meter can confirm it. Most meters have a small low-flow dial that spins if any water is moving. If the dial stops after you close the main valve, the leak is inside the house [4].

  • Use a wet/dry vacuum, mops and towels on standing water you can reach safely.
  • Pull up wet rugs and move furniture out or up onto blocks.
  • Wear gloves, a mask and goggles during cleanup [6].

Know which pipe broke. A supply line carries clean water. If the broken pipe is a drain or sewer line, treat the water as Category 3, grossly unsanitary water that can carry pathogens [7]. Wear gloves, boots and eye protection, and keep children and pets away.

Ceilings below the burst. Water runs down. A break upstairs or in the attic can soak the ceiling and walls below. A ceiling that sags, bulges or drips from one spot may be holding water. Stay out from under it and keep others away.

Plumber or restoration company: who does what?

A burst pipe is usually two jobs. A plumber fixes the pipe. A water damage restoration company deals with the water that got out. A small leak caught fast may need only the plumber. A burst that soaked drywall, carpet or a ceiling often needs both.

Who usually handles each part of a burst pipe
JobUsually handled byNotes
Stop the leak and repair or replace the broken pipePlumberAsk for a written estimate before work starts.
Thaw a frozen pipe you cannot find, reach or thaw yourselfPlumberThe Red Cross says to call a plumber in these cases.
Remove standing waterRestoration companyA wet/dry vacuum can handle small puddles yourself.
Dry walls, floors and subfloorRestoration companyThe goal is dry within 24 to 48 hours.
Remove wet drywall, insulation or carpet pad that will not dryRestoration companyWallboard not dried within 48 hours should be cut out.
Check outlets, wiring and appliances that got wetElectricianKeep power off to wet areas until checked.
Rebuild drywall, paint and flooringContractor or restoration companyComes last, after everything is dry.

Get the leak fixed first so drying does not fight new water. You do not need to wait for the plumber to finish before calling about drying, since the 24 to 48 hour clock is already running [8].

Dry everything within 24 to 48 hours

EPA says to dry water-damaged areas and items within 24 to 48 hours after a leak to prevent mold growth in most cases, and to keep indoor relative humidity below 60 percent, ideally 30 to 50 percent [9]. Run fans and a dehumidifier once power to the area is safe, lift wet rugs, and check the ceiling below the break each day.

Some materials will not dry in time. Massachusetts guidance says to cut out and discard wallboard that has not dried enough within 48 hours [10]. FEMA advises throwing out items that cannot be cleaned and dried completely within 24 to 48 hours [6].

Safe to do yourself

Clean water on a hard floor, caught quickly, with no wet drywall, insulation or carpet pad, is usually a towels, fans and dehumidifier job. Check again the next day.

Document it for insurance

Homeowner insurance usually covers sudden leaks, including burst and frozen pipes if you heat your home properly, but may not cover gradual leaks, says the Washington State insurance commissioner [11]. The New Hampshire Insurance Department adds that coverage may depend on reasonable precautions against freezing, and most policies require a minimum temperature or a shut-off water supply if the home is vacant [12]. The DC insurance regulator says to check your policy for its exact language [13].

  • Photograph and video every wet room and the broken pipe before cleanup.
  • Photograph items before you throw them out, as FEMA advises for claims [6].
  • Note when you found the leak and when you shut off the water.
  • Save receipts for the plumber, fans, dehumidifiers and emergency work.

Mold coverage is often limited. The Washington commissioner says homeowner insurance usually does not cover mold unless it comes from water damage the policy covers [11]. Your own policy controls, so read its water damage and exclusions sections or ask your agent.

What does a burst pipe cost?

Water damage and freezing claims averaged $15,400 per claim in 2019 to 2023, according to the Insurance Information Institute, citing ISO data. About one in 60 insured homes has such a claim each year, based on 2018 to 2020 data [14].

For cleanup alone, HomeAdvisor's cost guide updated June 17, 2026 puts water damage restoration at an average of $3,868, with a typical range of $1,383 to $6,369. It lists clean (Category 1) water at about $3.50 per square foot ($3 to $4) and Category 3 water at about $7.50 [15].

Price climbs with how long the water ran, how many rooms got wet, what got soaked, and whether the water came from a drain or sewer line. The plumber's bill is separate, so ask for a written estimate.

Frozen pipes in winter: why they burst and how to prevent it

Water expands as it freezes, putting heavy pressure on pipes [5]. An Institute for Business and Home Safety publication explains that pressure builds between the ice blockage and a closed faucet, so the pipe usually bursts where little or no ice has formed [16]. That is why a dripping faucet helps.

When to worry. For southern states and other places where freezing is rare, the same publication sets an alert threshold of 20°F outside, based on University of Illinois tests of uninsulated attic pipes. Pipes hit by drafts can freeze above that [16].

How to thaw a frozen pipe safely, per the American Red Cross [5]:

  1. If a faucet gives only a trickle, suspect a frozen pipe. Keep that faucet open.
  2. Warm the pipe with an electric heating pad, a hair dryer, a space heater kept away from anything flammable, or towels soaked in hot water. Do not use electric devices while standing in water. [16]
  3. Never use a blowtorch, kerosene or propane heater, charcoal stove or any open flame.
  4. Keep heating until full water pressure returns. If you cannot find, reach or thaw the frozen spot, call a plumber.
  5. Check your other faucets. If one pipe froze, others may have too.

Prevention from the Red Cross [5]:

  • Keep the thermostat steady day and night in cold snaps, and no lower than 55°F if you travel.
  • On very cold nights, let cold water drip from faucets served by exposed pipes.
  • Open sink cabinet doors so warm air reaches the pipes.
  • Before winter, disconnect hoses and drain outdoor spigots.
  • Insulate attics, basements and crawl spaces, and sleeve exposed pipes.

Common questions

Is a burst pipe considered an emergency?

Yes. A burst supply pipe keeps releasing water until the valve is closed; State Farm says even a small crack can release over 250 gallons a day [1]. Shut off the main valve first.

How much does it cost if a pipe bursts in your house?

The Insurance Information Institute puts the average water damage and freezing claim at $15,400 for 2019 to 2023 [14]. HomeAdvisor's June 17, 2026 guide lists restoration at $1,383 to $6,369 [15]. Pipe repair is billed separately.

How to tell if a pipe burst in the wall?

Look for a spreading stain, bubbling paint, soft drywall, or running water sounds when all taps are off. Then turn off every fixture and watch your meter's low-flow dial. If it stops when you close the main valve, the leak is inside the house [4].

When should I worry about my pipes bursting?

Where freezing is rare, an Institute for Business and Home Safety publication uses 20°F outside as the alert point, and drafty pipes can freeze above that [16]. Pipes in attics, crawl spaces, garages and outside walls are most at risk [5].

Does homeowners insurance cover a burst pipe?

Often, yes, when the leak is sudden and accidental; gradual leaks usually are not covered [11]. Coverage can depend on keeping the home heated [12]. Check your own policy.

Sources

  1. Frozen pipes and winter water damage claims (press release, January 20, 2026) State Farm Newsroom, accessed October 12, 2026
  2. Flood Electrical Safety: High Water, High Stakes Electrical Safety Foundation International, accessed October 12, 2026
  3. How to Turn Off Your Water Western Municipal Water District (California), accessed October 12, 2026
  4. Use Your Water Meter to Check for Leaks Saving Water Partnership (Seattle-area water utilities), accessed October 12, 2026
  5. Preventing & Thawing Frozen Pipes American Red Cross, accessed October 12, 2026
  6. Prevent Mold from Becoming a Secondary Disaster FEMA, accessed October 12, 2026
  7. Water damage guidelines (follows IICRC S500) University of California, Riverside, Environmental Health & Safety, accessed October 12, 2026
  8. Ten Things You Should Know about Mold U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, accessed October 12, 2026
  9. A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, accessed October 12, 2026
  10. Quick reference: water damage response in buildings Commonwealth of Massachusetts, accessed October 12, 2026
  11. Leaks, water damage and mold Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner, accessed October 12, 2026
  12. Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Water Damage from a Burst or Frozen Pipe? New Hampshire Insurance Department, accessed October 12, 2026
  13. If My Frozen Pipes Burst, Am I Covered by Insurance? DC Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking, accessed October 12, 2026
  14. Facts + Statistics: Homeowners and renters insurance Insurance Information Institute, accessed October 12, 2026
  15. Water damage restoration cost (updated June 17, 2026) HomeAdvisor, accessed October 12, 2026
  16. Freezing and Bursting Pipes Institute for Business and Home Safety (hosted by Spokane County, WA), accessed October 12, 2026