If a pipe bursts, shut off the main water valve immediately, turn off the water heater, and open the lowest faucet in the house to drain the lines. Then move belongings away from the water and call a licensed plumber. Most burst pipes are caused by freezing, corrosion or excessive water pressure.
Reviewed by Ron Olsen, Master Plumber, certified in Washington
What Makes Pipes Burst
- Freezing
- Water expands as it freezes and builds pressure between the ice and a closed faucet until the pipe splits. This often happens in exterior walls, attics and crawl spaces.
- Corrosion
- Older galvanized steel pipes, and some copper pipes, thin out over decades until a section fails.
- High water pressure
- Pressure above about 80 psi stresses pipes and fittings. You may need a pressure-reducing valve.
- Physical damage
- Nails, screws, shifting foundations or tree roots can puncture or crack water lines.
What You Can Safely Check
- Shut off the main water valve.
- Turn off electricity to any area where water is near outlets or appliances, if you can reach the breaker safely.
- Open cold water faucets to relieve pressure and drain the remaining water.
- Wrap a small split with a pipe repair clamp or rubber patch. This only buys time; it is not a repair.
When to Call a Plumber
Call a plumber for any burst pipe. Even after the leak stops, the damaged section has to be cut out and replaced, and nearby pipes should be checked. After a freeze, more than one spot may have cracked.
The repair is usually part of emergency plumbing, which explains what the plumber does and what affects the cost.
Burst and Frozen Pipes by City
What our city pages say about burst and frozen pipes:
- Rochester Hills, MI: Lines in outside walls and over garages freeze in deep cold.
- Boise, ID: Cold snaps freeze pipes in crawl spaces and garages, and sprinkler systems that were not blown out crack underground.
- Pittsburgh, PA: Cold snaps freeze pipes in exterior walls and unheated basements.
- Canton, OH: Lines in outside walls and unheated basements freeze in cold spells.
- Fort Wayne, IN: Sub-freezing stretches freeze pipes in exterior walls, crawl spaces and unheated basements.
- Fort Worth, TX: Hard freezes can burst pipes in attics, garages and exterior walls.
- Layton, UT: Hose bibs and lines in garages and outside walls freeze in cold snaps.
- Broomfield, CO: Hose bibs left connected and lines over garages freeze in cold snaps.
Other Emergency Plumbing Problems
Burst Pipe Questions
Can a burst pipe be fixed the same day?
Usually. Replacing a damaged section of copper, PEX or CPVC pipe is a common repair that many plumbers finish in one visit once the line is accessible.
How do I know if a frozen pipe has burst?
Watch for water stains, bulging drywall or the sound of running water after the pipe thaws. Keep the main valve within reach while thawing so you can shut it off quickly.