What Should You Do First When a Main Water Pipe Bursts?

What Should You Do in the First Hour When a Main Water Pipe Bursts?

Stop the flow at the main valve first, make the area safe second, then call for help. Each minute the water runs adds to the damage.

If the break is indoors rather than at the main line, a pipe bursting inside your home follows these same first steps.

1. Shut off the main water valve, usually a gate valve or a ball valve. If it will not close, skip to calling the utility below. Colorado State University Extension recommends locating this valve before an emergency.
2. Turn off power near the water, only if you can reach the breaker panel without walking through standing water.
3. Move people and pets out of standing water.
4. Open a low faucet to drain the lines once the flow has stopped.
5. Call your water utility or a plumber, depending on where the break is.
6. Photograph the damage before anyone starts cleanup.

NTMWD urges anyone experiencing a pipe burst or water leak to take immediate action to isolate the leak and minimize water loss, according to the regional water authority. Acting fast matters more than getting every step perfect.

Which Valve Do You Close First, Yours or the Utility's?

If water comes from inside the house or from the line before your valve, close the valve you can reach. If water comes from the street, the meter box, or the curb area, the utility controls that valve.

Your main water line and service line run from the street or water main into your house, and the main shutoff valve is the one you can close yourself. Where the utility's part ends and yours begins varies by city, so check your own utility's service line page before you assume either way.

For the slow leak version of this question, including who usually pays for the line, see our guide on why a main water pipe leaks.

Should You Call the Water Utility or a Plumber First?

Call the utility emergency line first if water comes from the street side or the meter area, or if you cannot close the main valve. Call a plumber first only when the break is on your side and the water is already stopped.

• Contact your city or water utility if you need help shutting off your water main valve. This is the utility's own advice for anyone who cannot close it alone.
• Call a licensed plumber once the water is stopped and the break is on your side of the meter.

Look up your water utility's emergency number on its website now, before a break happens, so you are not searching for it while the house is flooding.

What If the Main Valve Is Stuck, Leaking or Will Not Close?

Do not force the valve. Call the utility to close the valve at the meter or curb, and tell the dispatcher the valve will not turn or will not close all the way.

• Valve turns and the water stops: move on to calling a plumber once the area is safe.
• Valve turns, but water keeps flowing or the valve itself leaks: call the utility's emergency line now.
• Valve will not turn at all: do not force it. Forcing a stuck valve can snap the stem and make the leak worse, so call the utility instead.

For step by step help finding and turning the valve, see how to find and turn the main water shutoff valve. If water keeps dripping after you do close it, our guide on why water is still dripping after you shut off the main explains what that usually means.

What Should You Never Do During a Burst Main Water Pipe?

Do not walk or wade into water near outlets or a breaker panel, do not force a stuck valve, and do not try to repair the main with tape or a clamp.

• Walk or wade into standing water near outlets, cords, or a breaker panel.
• Touch the breaker panel while you are standing in water.
• Force a stuck valve.
• Wrap, tape, or clamp the main pipe as a repair.
• Run taps or appliances while the flow is still open.
• Use power tools or extension cords in wet areas.
• Throw out damaged items before you photograph them.
• Wait for the water to stop on its own.

Is It Safe to Stay in the House During a Main Break?

You can usually stay in dry rooms while you shut off the water. Leave if water reaches outlets or the panel, if you smell gas, or if water is rising in rooms with electrical equipment.

• Water has reached outlets or the breaker panel.
• You smell gas. Leave the house, then call the gas company or 911 from outside.
• Water is rising in a room with plugged in appliances or electrical equipment.

Turn off the electricity to prevent electric shock if it is safe to do so, according to Ready.gov. If reaching the panel means stepping into water, skip it and call an electrician or your utility instead. Once the power is confirmed off, see our guide on whether water damaged electrical equipment is still safe to use.

Can You Slow the Water Until a Plumber or Utility Arrives?

Yes, but only to slow or contain the water. Use a bucket under the leak, towels, and move valuables off the floor. Do not repair the pipe yourself.

• Stop the flow at the valve first, if you can.
• Put a bucket or towels under the leak to contain it.
• Move furniture, boxes, and valuables off the floor.
• Keep photographing as the water spreads.
• Do not clamp or tape the pipe unless the plumber or utility tells you to.

How Fast Can a Burst Main Water Pipe Flood a House?

A sudden break releases water much faster than a slow leak, so the first hour matters most. How quickly it floods depends on the pipe's size, your water pressure, and how long the flow runs before you reach the valve.

See our guide on how much water a burst pipe releases and what happens next for the damage timeline once water is inside your home.

How Long Do You Have to Dry Everything Out?

Start drying as soon as the water is stopped. The EPA's guidance for schools and commercial buildings calls 48 hours a guideline, not a guarantee: "Even if materials are dried within 48 hours, mold growth may have occurred."

The EPA also notes that mold growth will not always occur after 48 hours, calling that window only a guideline.

1. Remove standing water with a wet vacuum, mop, or pump.
2. Run fans and a dehumidifier to move air through wet areas. For timing, see how long to run a dehumidifier after a leak.
3. Pull up wet carpet and padding so the floor underneath can dry.
4. Check moisture levels daily until everything reads dry.
5. Call a water damage restoration professional if materials are still wet at 48 hours.

If your utility issued a boil water notice after the break, follow it until the utility says the water is safe again.

What Should You Document Before Anyone Cleans Up?

Photograph the break, the standing water, the damage, the shutoff valve, and the utility's ticket or case number before you move anything.

• Photos and video from several angles, with the date visible.
• A written list of damaged items.
• The time you called, and any ticket or case number from the utility or plumber.
• Receipts for any emergency work, such as a plumber's visit or water removal.
• Keep damaged items until your insurer has seen them, if you plan to file an insurance claim.

This is general information, not legal or insurance advice. Coverage often depends on where the break happened and your own policy wording; see our guide on whether homeowners insurance covers a burst pipe for that detail.

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners explains in its consumer guide on burst pipe coverage that homeowners policies cover damage from a "sudden and accidental" discharge from a plumbing system.