Quick answer
Shut off the main water valve first, then turn off the water heater and open faucets to drain the lines. If water has reached outlets or the electrical panel, stay out and do not touch anything electrical while wet. Move belongings, photograph the damage before cleanup, call your insurer, and call a plumber to repair the pipe.
Minutes 0 to 2: Stop the water at the main valve
Go straight to the main shutoff valve. Utilities describe it as being where the water supply enters the home, and common spots are a basement, a garage, a utility room, or outside near the foundation. Snohomish County PUD also lists the area near the water heater and near the clothes washer hookup.
Turn the handle clockwise. A round wheel handle turns several times. A lever handle usually needs a quarter turn. To confirm you have the right valve, check that the faucets in the house stop running. If they do not, try the next valve you find.
- Go to the main shutoff valve and turn it clockwise until it stops.
- Check a faucet. If water still runs, you may have the wrong valve or a valve that is not fully closed.
- If the main valve is missing, stuck or broken, the City of Bellevue notes you can shut water off at the valve in the meter box using a meter key or wrench. Check with your water utility first, because the meter belongs to the utility.
- If you cannot stop the flow, call your water utility's emergency line and call a plumber. If anyone is in danger, call 911.
Minutes 2 to 5: Make the area electrically safe
Water and electricity are the biggest injury risk in a burst pipe event. Look before you step into a wet room. If water is near outlets, light fixtures, baseboard heaters or the electrical panel, treat the area as live.
Utility safety guidance is consistent on a few points. Do not stand in standing water near electrical equipment. Do not touch breakers or fuses with wet hands or while standing on a wet surface. If the panel is dry and you can reach it without crossing water, turning off power to the affected area is reasonable. If the panel itself is wet, or water is coming through a ceiling onto a light fixture, stay out and call your electric utility or 911 if you see sparks, smoke or hear buzzing.
- Do not wade through water to reach the panel.
- Unplug small devices only if the outlet and floor are dry.
- Do not use a regular vacuum to remove water. A wet/dry vacuum should be plugged into a GFCI outlet.
- Have an electrician inspect any wiring or appliance that got wet before you use it again.
Minutes 5 to 10: Drain the lines and contain the water
With the main valve closed, open the faucets, starting with the highest floor and finishing at the lowest. Flushing toilets once empties the tanks. This drains pressure and standing water out of the pipes so less water escapes from the break.
Turn off the water heater as well. Snohomish County PUD advises turning the water heater off before draining the system. For an electric heater, that means its breaker.
Then limit the spread. Move rugs, furniture legs, electronics and boxes out of the wet area. Use towels, mops and buckets. Stay out from under any sagging or bulging ceiling, which can hold a lot of water and can fall.
Minutes 10 to 15: Document before you clean
Photograph and video the damage before you move or throw anything out. Capture the broken pipe if it is visible, wet walls, floors and ceilings, damaged belongings, and any water line on the wall. Write down the time you found the leak and the actions you took.
Keep receipts for emergency repairs, drying equipment and temporary housing. Insurers commonly ask for them.
Call your insurer or agent as soon as you can. The Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner says to call your insurer quickly and to try to prevent further damage to the home. Nationwide's guidance is to document damage with photos before cleanup and then file your claim with that record.
Coverage varies. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners notes that many homeowners policies cover a sudden and accidental discharge from plumbing, that some require the home to be kept heated or the water shut off when vacant, and that damage may not be covered if the insurer finds the plumbing was neglected. Read your policy or ask your agent. If you need help with a policy question, the Washington Insurance Consumer Hotline is 800-562-6900.
What not to do
Stress leads to shortcuts. These are the ones to avoid.
- Do not leave the water on while you look for a plumber. Stop the flow first.
- Do not walk into water near electrical equipment or touch wet electrical devices.
- Do not throw away damaged items or tear out materials before photographing them and checking with your insurer.
- Do not wait to dry things out. Pulling up soaked carpet pad and running dehumidifiers early limits damage.
- Do not try to solder, glue or clamp a pipe that is still under pressure. Shut the water off first, and have a plumber assess whether a section needs replacement.
- Do not turn the water back on to test your own patch. A repair that fails again can flood the home a second time.
After the first 15 minutes: dry out and find the cause
The EPA's mold guidance says to act within 24 to 48 hours to dry water-damaged materials. Extract standing water, run dehumidifiers and fans, and check whether wallboard and flooring need to be opened up. Wet insulation and ceiling tiles generally need to be discarded. The guidance also notes that 48 hours is a guideline, not a guarantee, and that mold can still grow.
That advice assumes clean water. If the water may be contaminated, as with a sewage backup, protective equipment and professional help are recommended, and our sewage backup guide covers that case.
Think about why the pipe failed. A single break from freezing, a worn fitting or a corroded section may point to other weak spots. Ask the plumber to check nearby pipes, the pressure at the home and any shutoff valves that stuck or leaked. The EPA also notes that water leaks add up in ordinary homes, so a meter check after repairs is worth doing: read the meter, use no water for two hours, then read it again. Any change suggests another leak.
When to call Pyper Plumbing
Call a plumber as soon as the water is off, even if the leak looks small. A burst pipe that has been stopped is not a repaired pipe, and a plumber can locate the failure, replace the damaged section and check the rest of the system. Pyper Plumbing handles emergency plumbing repair, leak detection and repair, water heaters, frozen pipe repair and repiping for homes in Snohomish, Skagit, Whatcom and Island counties.
If the burst involved a gas appliance and you smell gas, leave the building and call 911 and your gas utility. Pyper does not do gas line work, electrical work or HVAC. For wet wiring or a flooded panel, you will need a licensed electrician, and for water damage restoration you may want a drying and restoration company. We are glad to tell you what we can and cannot help with when you call.
Common questions
Should I turn off the electricity when a pipe bursts?
Only if you can reach the panel without crossing water and your hands and floor are dry. If water is near outlets or the panel, stay out and call your electric utility or 911. Never stand in water near electrical equipment.
Where is my main water shutoff valve?
Common locations are where the water line enters the house, in a basement, garage or utility room, near the water heater, or near the washer hookup. Some homes have a valve in the meter box near the street. Mark it so everyone in the household can find it.
Will insurance cover a burst pipe?
Many homeowners policies cover sudden and accidental plumbing discharge, but terms vary, and neglect or an unheated home can affect coverage. Photograph the damage, call your insurer promptly, and ask your agent what your policy requires.
How fast do I need to dry out after a burst pipe?
The EPA's guidance is to start drying water-damaged materials within 24 to 48 hours to reduce the chance of mold. If materials stay wet longer, or the water was contaminated, get professional help.
Sources
Facts in this guide come from the following references. Local rules and manufacturer instructions can differ, so follow your utility and your equipment manual.
- Snohomish County PUD: Water services (shutoff valve guidance)
- Snohomish County PUD: Frozen water pipes
- City of Bellevue: Before an emergency, find your home's water shut-off valve
- Nationwide: What to do when a pipe bursts
- Hoffmann Bros.: How to stop a burst pipe from flooding my home
- NAIC: Will my homeowners insurance policy cover water damage from a burst pipe?
- Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner: Filing a claim after a natural disaster
- Kentucky Living: Electrical safety during a flood
- U.S. EPA: Mold remediation guidance, drying water-damaged materials within 24 to 48 hours
- U.S. EPA WaterSense: Fix a Leak Week
This guide is general information, not a substitute for an on-site inspection. If you smell natural gas, leave the building and call 911 or your gas utility. Pyper does not perform gas line work.
