The Reality: You Have Minutes, Not Hours

There are few sounds more terrifying to a homeowner than the rush of high-pressure water inside a wall or ceiling. Whether it is a deep winter freeze that finally split a copper line, or an aging PVC joint that let go, a burst pipe is the ultimate plumbing emergency.

Here is the brutal math: A standard residential water pipe under normal city pressure can dump up to 400 gallons of water an hour into your living room.

Every single second you spend panicking is another gallon soaking into your drywall, ruining your hardwood floors, and laying the groundwork for toxic black mold. Stop reading this and immediately execute Step 1.

Step 1: Shut Off the Main Water Valve (Do This Now)

You cannot fix the pipe while it is under pressure. Your only goal right now is to stop the flow of water into your house.

Locate the Main Valve: If you don't know where it is, check these three places immediately:
- The Basement or Crawlspace: Look along the front interior wall of your home, near where the water meter is located.
- The Utility Room: Often located near the water heater or furnace.
- Outside in the Yard: Look for a concrete or plastic box set flush with the ground near the street (you may need a special "meter key" or a wrench to turn this one).
Turn It Off: * If it’s a lever-style valve (ball valve), pull the handle so it is perpendicular (at a 90-degree angle) to the pipe.
- If it’s a round wheel (gate valve), turn it clockwise to the right ("righty-tighty") until it stops. Don't force it to the point of breaking.

If the pipe burst is isolated to a specific fixture (like under the kitchen sink or behind the toilet), you can turn off the local isolation valve directly at the wall behind the fixture instead of shutting down the whole house.

Step 2: Kill the Power (The Electrical Hazard)

Water and electricity are a lethal combination. If the burst pipe is leaking anywhere near electrical outlets, light fixtures, or your main breaker panel, you must cut the power.

Go to your main electrical panel.
If the area around the panel is completely dry, open the door and flip the specific breakers for the flooded rooms to the "OFF" position.
WARNING: If the breaker box itself is wet, or if you have to stand in a puddle of water to reach it, do not touch it. Call your local utility company immediately to cut the power to the house from the grid.

Step 3: Relieve the Remaining Pressure

Even though the main water is off, the pipes inside your house are still completely full of water. You need to drain them so that water doesn't continue to slowly leak out of the burst section.

Turn on the cold water taps on the lowest level of your house (usually a basement utility sink or an outdoor hose bib).
Then, turn on the cold water taps on the highest level of your house to let air into the system. This breaks the vacuum and allows the water to drain quickly to the bottom floor.
Flush all the toilets once to empty the tanks.

Step 4: Call a Verified Emergency Plumber

Now that the immediate danger is stabilized, you need professional help. A burst pipe is not a DIY repair you can fix with a roll of duct tape.

You need a licensed plumber who can cut out the damaged section, solder in new copper or crimp new PEX, and verify that the rest of the line wasn't compromised by the pressure spike or freeze. Furthermore, if the water reached your furnace or water heater, you may need a simultaneous water heater repair.

Don't waste time scrolling through endless search results trying to figure out who is actually open at 2 AM.

Head directly to the True Plumber Directory to find a verified, licensed, and insured emergency plumbing service in your local area.

Step 5: Document and Mitigate the Damage

While you wait for the plumber to arrive, start playing defense.

Take Photos and Video: Before you move anything, document the damage. Take wide shots of the flooded rooms and close-ups of ruined furniture or electronics. Your insurance adjuster will need this to process your claim.
Move the Valuables: Get electronics, important documents, and un-damaged furniture out of the wet area immediately.
Start Moping: The faster you get the standing water off the floor, the better chance you have of saving your baseboards and flooring. If the flooding is severe, you will need to contact a professional flood cleanup crew with industrial extractors and dehumidifiers.

A burst pipe is chaotic, but by acting decisively, you can stop the bleeding and get your home on the road to recovery.