What to Do When a Pipe Bursts: A Step-by-Step Guide

A burst pipe can put several gallons a minute onto your floor. What you do in the first five minutes decides whether you are mopping a room or replacing drywall, flooring and furniture. Here are the steps, in order.

Step 1: Shut off the main water valve

This comes before anything else. In most Macomb County homes the main shut-off is in the basement, on the wall facing the street, close to where the water line comes through the floor or wall and next to the meter. Turn a round handle clockwise until it stops. Turn a lever handle a quarter turn so it sits across the pipe.

If you cannot find it or it will not turn, the water can also be shut off at the meter box near the street, usually a round or square cover in the lawn.

Step 2: Turn off electricity to the wet area

If water is near outlets, light fixtures or appliances, switch off the breakers for that part of the house. Do not step into standing water to reach the panel. If you cannot get to it safely, stay out of the area and call for help.

Step 3: Open the faucets

Open the cold taps, starting at the lowest level of the house, and flush the toilets. This drains the water still in the pipes so it comes out at the sink instead of at the break.

Step 4: Turn off the water heater

With the water off, a water heater should not keep heating. Switch a gas heater to the pilot or vacation setting. Turn off the breaker for an electric heater.

Step 5: Catch and remove the water

Put buckets under drips, and move rugs, furniture and boxes out of the wet area. If a ceiling is sagging with water, stay out from under it. Mop or wet-vacuum what you can. The sooner surfaces start drying, the less damage and the lower the chance of mold.

Step 6: Take photos

Photograph the break, the water and anything damaged before you clean up. Your insurance company will ask for it.

Step 7: Call a plumber

A burst pipe cannot wait until Monday, because the water has to stay off until the pipe is repaired. Our emergency line is answered 24 hours a day at (586) 943-4158.

What not to do

• Do not use an open flame or a torch to thaw a frozen pipe
• Do not turn the water back on to test the pipe
• Do not ignore a small split. It will not stay small under pressure.

Why pipes burst

In Michigan the usual cause is freezing. Ice forms in a pipe that runs through an outside wall, a crawl space or above a garage, and the pressure between the ice and a closed faucet splits the pipe. The leak often appears only when the ice thaws. Corrosion in old pipe and worn-out supply hoses on washing machines and toilets are the other common causes.

Know where your shut-off is before you need it

Find your main valve today and make sure everyone in the house knows where it is. Turn it once a year so it does not seize. If it will not turn, have it replaced. It is a small job that makes every future emergency easier.

Common questions

Does homeowners insurance cover a burst pipe?

Sudden, accidental water damage is commonly covered, but policies differ. Call your agent and keep your photos and receipts.

Can I patch a burst pipe myself?

A repair clamp from the hardware store can hold as a temporary measure. The damaged section still needs to be cut out and replaced.

How do I keep pipes from freezing?

We cover that in how to prevent frozen pipes during a Michigan winter.

Read more about our 24-hour emergency plumbing and frozen and burst pipe repair.