What to Do When a Pipe Bursts
By the Duncan Family Plumbing team · September 15, 2026
The first move is always the same: shut off your home’s main water valve immediately. Then open the lowest faucets to drain remaining water from the lines, switch off the water heater if it’s electric, and call a plumber. Acting fast in the first few minutes limits the damage more than anything you do afterward.
Step 1: Shut Off the Water
Find your main shutoff valve — usually near the water meter or where the line enters the house — and turn it fully off. This is the single most important step, since it stops the flooding at the source instead of just at the broken pipe.
Step 2: Drain the Lines
Open faucets throughout the house, starting with the lowest ones, to relieve pressure and drain what’s left in the pipes. This reduces further leaking from the broken section while you wait for help.
Step 3: Protect Electrical and Power Off the Water Heater
Keep water away from outlets and panels, and if it’s safe to reach, switch off an electric water heater so it doesn’t run dry and burn out its element.
Step 4: Start Cleanup and Call a Plumber
Move furniture and valuables out of standing water, and use towels or a wet-vac to limit soaking into floors. Photograph the damage for insurance before you start cleanup. Then call a plumber — a burst pipe is exactly the kind of emergency worth a same-day repair rather than a wait-and-see approach.
Why Every Homeowner Should Know Their Shutoff Location
The difference between a contained puddle and a flooded basement often comes down to how fast someone found the shutoff valve. If you don’t know where yours is, find it today — before you need it at 2 a.m.