Burst Pipe: What to Do Right Now
Updated September 18, 2026
Can I do this myself?
Emergency
This is an emergency, not a DIY repair. Your job is to stop the water, stay safe from electricity and limit damage; the pipe itself should be repaired by a plumber.
A burst pipe can release a large amount of water in minutes, soaking floors, walls, ceilings and anything electrical in its path. The most important thing you can do right now is stop the water at the main shut-off valve. Every minute it runs adds to the damage.
Pipes burst for several reasons: freezing (often discovered when the ice thaws), corrosion in old pipes, high water pressure, a failed fitting, or physical damage from a nail or screw. The cause matters for the repair, but not for the next few minutes. First stop the water, then deal with electricity safely, then protect your belongings and call a plumber.
Water and electricity together are the real danger. Never walk into standing water if it could be in contact with outlets, extension cords, appliances or wiring. If you can’t reach your breaker or fuse box while standing on dry ground, stay out and call your electricity provider or the local emergency number such as 911, 112 or 999.
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Signs of the problem
- Water spraying, pouring or gushing from a pipe or fitting
- Water dripping or pouring through a ceiling or light fixture
- A sudden drop in water pressure throughout the house
- The sound of running water when no taps are open
- Wet patches spreading quickly on walls, floors or ceilings
- A bulging or sagging ceiling (water collecting above it)
Common causes
Frozen pipe
Most commonIce expands inside the pipe and splits it. The leak often shows up only when the ice thaws, sometimes days after a cold snap.
Corrosion or old, worn pipes
Most commonGalvanised steel and older copper or plastic pipes weaken over decades. A pinhole leak or joint can suddenly give way.
Failed fitting or connector
SometimesFlexible supply hoses to toilets, sinks, washing machines and water heaters, and push-fit or compression joints, can burst or separate, especially when they are old.
High water pressure or water hammer
SometimesExcessive pressure or repeated banging when valves close stresses pipes and joints until one fails.
Physical damage
Less commonA nail or screw driven through a wall, or digging outside, can puncture a pipe. Sometimes the leak starts only months later.
Stay safe
- Critical:Do not walk into standing water that could be touching outlets, cords, appliances or wiring. Stay out and call for help if in doubt.
- Critical:Only switch off electricity at the breaker or fuse box if you can reach it while standing on a dry floor with dry hands.
- Critical:If water is coming through a ceiling light or near wiring, don’t touch the switches or fixtures.
- Stay out from under a sagging or bulging ceiling. It can collapse suddenly under the weight of water.
- If the leak is from hot water pipes or the water heater, keep clear of the spray. It can scald.
- If you smell gas at the same time, leave the building immediately and call your gas utility or emergency number from outside.
Tools & materials
Tools
- Flashlight
- Buckets
- Wrench (only if your main valve needs one)
Materials
- Towels, old sheets or mops
- Pipe repair clamp or repair tape (temporary stopgap only)
- Plastic sheeting or bin bags (to protect belongings)
What to do right now
- 1
Shut off the main water valve
Go straight to your main shut-off valve. It is usually where the water line enters the building: a basement, utility room, under the kitchen sink, near the water meter or in a meter box outside. Turn a round wheel handle clockwise until it stops; turn a lever handle a quarter turn so it sits across the pipe. In apartments, there may be a valve for your unit near the entrance, kitchen or bathroom.
Tip: If you can’t find or turn the main valve, call your water utility or building management. They can shut the supply at the street or building level.
- 2
Make the electricity safe, only if you can stay dry
If water is near outlets, appliances, wiring or light fixtures, switch off power to the affected areas (or the main switch) at the breaker or fuse box, but only if you can reach it without stepping in water. If you can’t, don’t go in; call your electricity provider or local emergency number.
Warning: Never touch the breaker or fuse box while standing in water or with wet hands.
- 3
Drain the system
With the main off, open the cold taps on the lowest floor, and flush toilets, to drain water out of the pipes and reduce what leaks out. If the leak is on the hot side, switch off an electric water heater at its breaker, or turn a gas heater to Vacation or Pilot per its label.
- 4
Contain the water
Put buckets under the leak and soak up water with towels and mops. If a ceiling is bulging with water, keep people away from underneath it and leave it to a professional rather than trying to pierce it yourself.
Warning: A sagging ceiling can collapse without warning. Keep out from under it.
- 5
Move valuables and protect belongings
Lift electronics, documents, rugs and furniture off wet floors or move them to a dry room. Cover what you can’t move with plastic sheeting. Unplug appliances only if the plugs and floor around them are dry.
- 6
Document the damage for insurance
Take clear photos and videos of the burst pipe, the water, and damaged walls, floors and belongings before you clean up. Note the date and time. Keep receipts for anything you buy and any emergency work.
- 7
Call a plumber
Call a licensed plumber or emergency plumbing service. Tell them where the pipe burst, what type of pipe it looks like (copper, plastic, steel) and that the main water is off. If a lot of water has entered the building, you may also need a water damage restoration company.
- 8
Use a temporary patch only as a stopgap
If you need water back urgently and the split is small and accessible, a pipe repair clamp or self-fusing repair tape can hold it temporarily. Dry the pipe, centre the clamp or wrap tightly over the split, then turn the main back on slowly and watch closely. This is not a permanent repair.
Warning: Don’t rely on a temporary patch overnight or while away. Keep the main off until a plumber has made a permanent repair if you are unsure.
- 9
Start drying out
Open windows and doors if the weather allows, and use fans or a dehumidifier once the electrics are confirmed safe. Wet areas left for more than a day or two can develop mould, so drying quickly matters.
Before you go back in
- Water has stopped flowing from the pipe with the main valve closed
- No water is in contact with live electrics, or power to those areas is off
- Belongings are protected and damage is documented
- A plumber is on the way or the pipe has been permanently repaired
When to stop and call a professional
- Any burst pipe needs a plumber for a permanent repair
- You can’t find or close the main valve (call your water utility or building management)
- Water has reached electrical outlets, wiring, the breaker or fuse box, or ceiling lights (call an electrician or emergency services)
- A ceiling is sagging, bulging or cracking
- Large areas of flooring, walls or insulation are soaked (a water damage restoration company can help)
- You also smell gas (leave and call your gas utility or emergency number from outside)
How to prevent it
- Know where your main water valve is and check once a year that it turns.
- Insulate pipes in unheated areas and keep the heating on during freezing weather.
- Replace old flexible supply hoses on toilets, sinks, washers and water heaters before they fail.
- Have a plumber check water pressure and fit a pressure-reducing valve if it is too high.
- Shut off the main water when leaving home for extended periods.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the first thing to do when a pipe bursts?
Shut off the main water valve. That stops the flow to the whole house. Then deal with electricity safely, protect belongings and call a plumber.
Where is my main water shut-off valve?
Usually where the water supply enters the building: a basement, utility room, garage, under the kitchen sink, near the water meter or in a meter box outside. In apartments there may be a valve for your unit. Find it before you need it.
Should I turn off the electricity if a pipe bursts?
If water is near outlets, wiring or appliances, yes, but only if you can reach the breaker or fuse box while standing dry. Never walk through standing water to reach it. Call your electricity provider or emergency services instead.
Can I fix a burst pipe myself?
A repair clamp or repair tape can hold a small split temporarily, but a burst pipe needs a proper repair by a plumber, who can also check for other weakened sections.
Will insurance cover a burst pipe?
It depends on your policy and the cause. Many policies cover sudden bursts but may exclude slow leaks or damage from neglect. Document everything with photos and contact your insurer promptly.
This guide is general information, not professional advice. Homes differ, so follow your product manuals and local codes. If anything looks different from what's described, or you feel unsure, stop and call a qualified professional. In an emergency, leave the area and call your local emergency number.
Related guides
Frozen pipes
DIY with precautionsYes, you can safely thaw an exposed frozen pipe yourself with gentle heat like a hair dryer or warm towels. Never use an open flame, and shut off the main water valve immediately if you find a split.
Ceiling water stain
DIY with precautionsCovering a dry, stable stain is a safe DIY job. Finding the leak is the real work, and a sagging, bulging or dripping ceiling is a stop sign: keep people away and get help, because wet ceiling boards can collapse.
Breaker keeps tripping
DIY with precautionsYou can safely find and fix an overloaded circuit yourself by unplugging and moving appliances. If the breaker trips instantly, feels hot, buzzes or smells of burning, stop and call a licensed electrician.
Noisy water heater
DIY with precautionsMost noises are caused by sediment and are not dangerous in themselves. Flushing a tank is a reasonable DIY task if you follow the scald and power precautions carefully. Any discharge or leak from the temperature and pressure relief valve needs a professional.
Bathroom mold
DIY with precautionsSmall patches of surface mold are safe to clean yourself with gloves, eye protection, a mask and good ventilation. Large areas, mold behind walls, or anyone with health symptoms means calling a professional.