Burst Pipe? What to Do in the First 30 Minutes

Minutes 0 to 5: stop the water

1. Close the main shut-off. Usually on the basement wall facing the street, next to the meter. See how to shut off your water main.
2. Open the lowest faucet in the house, like a basement sink or laundry tub, to drain the remaining water out of the pipes.
3. Flush toilets once to empty their tanks if the leak is above them.

Minutes 5 to 10: make it safe

• Turn off the water heater. Gas heaters to "pilot" or "off," electric at the breaker. A heater with no incoming water can overheat.
• If a ceiling is bulging with water, poke a small hole at the lowest point with a screwdriver over a bucket. It's better to drain it in a controlled way than have it come down.
• Keep kids and pets away from wet areas and fallen ceiling material.

Minutes 10 to 20: protect your things

• Move electronics, documents, rugs and furniture out of the water's path.
• Put aluminum foil or plastic under furniture legs to keep wood from staining carpet.
• Start removing standing water with towels, a wet vac or buckets.
• Open windows or run fans if it's safe to use electricity in that area.

Minutes 20 to 30: document and call

• Take photos and video of the leak, the damage and any affected belongings before cleaning up further. Insurers ask for them.
• Call a licensed plumber. Tell them the main is off, where the leak is, and what kind of pipe if you know. Ask for the trip fee before they dispatch.
• Call your insurer to start the claim. Many policies cover sudden water damage from burst pipes, but check your coverage.

Why pipes burst in winter

Water expands when it freezes. The ice plug creates pressure in the section between the ice and a closed faucet, and the pipe often splits there, sometimes a few feet from where it actually froze. That's why you can thaw a pipe and only then discover the leak.

In Clifton homes, the usual freeze spots are:

• Pipes in exterior walls, especially corner kitchens and bathrooms
• Crawlspaces and unheated rooms over porches or garages
• Outdoor faucets that weren't shut off and drained
• Basements with broken windows or drafty rim joists

Pipes that burst without freezing

Not every burst is a freeze. Galvanized steel pipe, still found in many older homes in Clifton, Passaic and the river towns, corrodes from the inside and can fail at threaded joints. High water pressure, over about 80 psi, stresses every connection. Rubber washing-machine hoses and plastic supply lines under sinks fail with age.

After the plumber leaves

• Dry the area within 24 to 48 hours to limit mold. Professional drying may be needed for soaked drywall and flooring.
• Keep receipts for every repair and cleanup cost.
• If your home has had more than one leak in a short time, ask about the condition of the rest of the piping.

For burst pipe repair and leak detection in Clifton and nearby towns, see our burst pipe repair service.