What do I do when a pipe bursts?
Water spraying or pouring from a pipe, a sudden pressure drop, water running down a wall, or a ceiling bulging and dripping.
This one can get worse fast. Call before it spreads.
Key takeaways
- This is an emergency. Shut things down and call a plumber now rather than waiting.
- Most likely cause: Freeze damage.
- Do this first: Close the main water shutoff valve.
- Call right away if water is near electrical equipment or a furnace.
- The repair starts with: Isolate the break and stabilize the system.
What it is
Burst pipe A burst pipe is a full break or split in a water line that releases water continuously into the home rather than through a fixture, often from freezing, corrosion, or physical damage.
This needs immediate action, so shut off the main water supply valve right away to stop the flow before calling a plumber.
The short answer
Shut off the water main first. Every second it stays open adds damage. Then cut power to any circuit near the water, open the lowest faucets in the house to drain the remaining pressure, and move belongings clear. Call for emergency plumbing next, and photograph the damage before cleanup for your insurance claim. Do not wait for the water to stop on its own, because it will not until the main is closed.
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What it usually means
These are the causes we find most often, ranked from most likely to least.
- 1
Freeze damage
Most likely
The leading cause in Denver winters. Ice expands and splits the pipe, then it releases on the thaw.
- 2
Corroded or aged pipe
Common
Old galvanized and thin wall copper fail at the weakest point without warning.
- 3
Excessive water pressure
Common
A failed pressure reducing valve stresses every joint in the house.
- 4
Water hammer damage over time
Less common
Repeated shock loosens and eventually splits fittings.
- 5
Physical damage from a nail, screw, or shifting foundation
Occasional
Often shows up months after remodeling work.
What to do right now
- 1Close the main water shutoff valve.
- 2Turn off power to any area where water is near outlets, panels, or appliances.
- 3Open the lowest faucets to drain the system and reduce pressure at the break.
- 4Photograph the damage, then move belongings and start extracting water.
When it is an emergency
- Water is near electrical equipment or a furnace.
- A ceiling is bulging or sagging under trapped water.
- You cannot find or close the main shutoff.
What the fix involves
The immediate job is stopping the water and isolating the break. Once the run is dry, the damaged section is cut out and replaced. If the pipe failed because of pressure or age, that gets addressed too, because a single patch on a failing system just moves the next break down the line.
- 1Isolate the break and stabilize the system.
- 2Expose the failed section and cut it out.
- 3Replace with new pipe and test under pressure.
- 4Check house pressure and pipe condition to prevent the next failure.
What drives the cost
Every job is quoted before work begins. These are the factors that move the number on this kind of repair.
- Location of the break and how much has to be opened to reach it
- Length and material of the replacement run
- Emergency and after hours response
- Whether repiping is the better call than a single repair
Related problems homeowners ask about
What should I do about frozen pipes?
A faucet that trickles or gives nothing during a cold snap, frost on exposed pipe, or bulged pipe in a crawlspace or exterior wall.
Read this nextWhat causes a ceiling stain under an upstairs bathroom?
A brown ring, a soft or sagging spot, bubbling paint, or active dripping on the ceiling directly under a bathroom.
Read this nextWhy do my pipes bang when I shut off the water?
A sharp bang or a series of knocks when a faucet closes, a toilet finishes filling, or a washer or dishwasher valve cycles.
Read this next
Read more on this
This page is for triage and dispatch. These guides go deeper on how the work is done and what shapes the price.
What to Do When a Pipe Bursts in Your Denver Home
A half inch supply line can move several gallons a minute. The first four minutes decide how much of your home you have to rebuild. Here is the order of operations.
Read the guideHow to Winterize Your Plumbing System to Avoid Frozen Pipes
Front Range cold snaps arrive fast and hit the same pipes every year. An afternoon of prep in the fall prevents the burst that floods a basement in January.
Read the guide
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- Family Owned & OperatedServing Denver since 2006, 20 years
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- Serving Denver since 2006Residential and commercial properties across the metro
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Straight answers on what burst pipe emergency work costs, how fast we can get out, and what stands behind the repair.
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