Burst Pipe? Here's Exactly What to Do First

A burst pipe is one of the most stressful plumbing emergencies a homeowner can face. Water can flow out at a rate of several gallons per minute, and damage to floors, walls, insulation, and belongings accumulates fast. If this happens to you, don't panic — here's the right sequence of steps.

Step 1: Shut Off the Water

Find your main shutoff valve and turn it off immediately. In most Southern New Hampshire homes, it's located in the basement, utility room, or close to the water meter where the supply enters the house. If you don't know where yours is, find it now — before there's an emergency. Once you've shut off the main, open the lowest faucet in the house to drain residual water out of the pipes.

Step 2: Turn Off the Water Heater

Once the main supply is off, shut down the water heater. Running it without a water supply can burn out the heating element or damage the tank. For gas heaters, turn the dial to "pilot." For electric, switch off the dedicated breaker in your panel.

Step 3: Document Everything Before You Clean Up

Take photos and video of the burst pipe, the surrounding area, any standing water, and affected belongings before you touch anything. Your homeowner's insurance will want documentation, and this is the time to get it — once you start mopping up, the evidence is gone.

Step 4: Start Drying Immediately

The faster you reduce moisture, the lower your risk of mold, which can begin colonizing wet drywall and insulation within 24 to 48 hours. Open windows if weather allows, run fans, and move portable furniture and rugs out of the wet area.

Step 5: Call a Plumber

A repair clamp or pipe wrap can stop the immediate flow temporarily, but a proper fix means cutting out the damaged section and soldering or pressing in new fittings. This is not a long-term DIY repair, and an improperly patched pipe often fails again — sometimes inside a wall where it does far more damage the second time.

Local Plumbing Co. responds to burst pipe emergencies throughout Rockshire County. Call us right away and we'll get a plumber to you as fast as possible.