Burst Pipe: What to Do Right Now
Shut off the main water valve first. If water is near outlets or the panel, leave electricity off and do not stand in the water. Open a low faucet to drain the lines, move valuables, photograph everything, and call a restoration crew to extract the water and start drying. Do it in that order.
Pipe burst? Shut the main valve, then call. We answer 24 hours.
Call now, any hour(305) 542-5253Do this first
Find the main shutoff and close it
It is usually near the water meter, at the street side of the house, or where the supply line enters the building. Turn the handle until the water stops.
Deal with the electricity
If water is dripping near lights, outlets or the panel, switch off power from a dry spot. If you cannot get to the breaker without stepping in water, do not try, and call an electrician or the utility.
Drain the system
Open the lowest faucet in the house to let the remaining water in the pipes run out. Flushing a toilet once also helps.
Move what you can
Lift rugs, papers, electronics and small furniture out of the wet area. Leave heavy items for the crew.
Photograph and note the time
Take pictures of the broken pipe, the wet areas and the damage. The time of discovery is useful for your insurer.
Call us
We will help you work out what comes next while the crew is on the way.
When to call
- Water has reached walls, ceilings or flooring.
- You cannot find or close the shutoff valve.
- The pipe broke inside a wall or above a ceiling.
- More than a few square feet of floor is wet.
- The water has been sitting for hours.
Why does a small burst pipe turn into a big job?
Water from a supply line does not stay where you see it. It runs under baseboards, soaks the bottom of drywall, and travels along framing into rooms that look dry. By the time you smell mustiness, it has often been there a day or more.
In Miami humidity, damp materials that stay wet for 24 to 48 hours can begin to grow mold. That is the reason to dry the structure instead of just mopping.
What do we do on arrival?
Extract
Pumps and vacuums pull standing water off floors.
Find
A thermal camera and moisture meter show wet areas behind walls and under floors.
Dry
Air movers and dehumidifiers run until readings return to normal.
Document
We photograph and write up the loss, and work with your insurer when the claim applies.
Will insurance pay for a burst pipe?
A sudden pipe break is the kind of event homeowners policies commonly respond to for the resulting water damage. The pipe itself and any slow, long-term leak are often treated differently. Ask your insurer or adjuster how your policy handles each. We cover the claim side in our water damage insurance guide.
Common questions
What is the first thing to do when a pipe bursts?
Close the main water shutoff valve to stop the flow. Then deal with electrical safety: if water is near outlets or the panel, keep power off and stay out of the water. Open a low faucet to drain the lines, photograph the damage, and call a restoration crew right away.
Is it safe to turn off the power when a pipe bursts?
Only if you can reach the breaker from a dry spot without stepping in water. If the panel is wet or you have to wade to reach it, do not. Leave it and call your utility or a licensed electrician. Water and electricity together can be deadly.
Can I just mop up and use fans after a burst pipe?
For a small spill on a hard floor, maybe. For anything that reached walls, baseboards, carpet or ceilings, it is risky. Water hides in framing and insulation, and mold can start within 24 to 48 hours. A crew with moisture meters can confirm that everything is truly dry.
Does insurance cover water damage from a burst pipe?
Sudden pipe bursts are commonly covered for the resulting water damage under homeowners policies, though the broken pipe itself and long-term leaks may be treated differently. Your policy wording decides. Frontline works with insurers, and your insurer or adjuster decides what is paid.
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