What should I do when a pipe bursts in my house?

Where the Shutoffs Are

In most Denver metro homes the main shutoff is on an interior wall in the basement or mechanical room where the service line enters, usually on the street-facing side. Homes without basements often have it in a utility closet or garage. There is also a curb stop at the property line, which the water utility controls.

Individual fixtures have their own valves under sinks and behind toilets, and water heaters have a cold inlet valve. If the break is downstream of one of those, you can isolate it without shutting the whole house.

Why Pipes Burst

• Freezing, which expands water in the line and splits it, most often on thaw.
• Corrosion and age in galvanized steel and older copper.
• Water pressure above roughly 80 psi stressing joints and fixtures.
• Failed push-fit or compression joints and supply hoses.
• Physical damage during remodeling, hanging fixtures, or driving fasteners into a wall.

What Happens After the Water Stops

Pressurized water spreads fast and far. Expect water in adjacent rooms, in wall cavities near the break, and on the level below if the break was upstairs. A restoration crew maps the wet area with meters and thermal imaging, extracts, removes saturated pad and insulation where needed, and dries the structure over three to five days.

What To Do, Step By Step

1. Shut the main water valve, turning clockwise until it stops.
2. Open the lowest faucets and flush a toilet to drain the system.
3. Turn off breakers for wet areas if water is near outlets, cords, or equipment.
4. Photograph the break, the water, and every affected room before moving anything.
5. Move contents and electronics out, and put blocks under furniture that cannot be moved.
6. Extract standing water and call for emergency water extraction and drying.
7. Call a plumber to repair the line, and notify your insurer the same day.

Colorado and Denver Considerations

Front Range freeze-thaw swings, sometimes 40 degrees in a single day, drive most Denver metro burst pipes in December through February. The pipes that fail are typically in unheated garages, crawl spaces, exterior walls, and hose bibs left connected through a cold night.

Exceptions and Important Considerations

• If the break is in a ceiling and the ceiling is bulging, stay out of the room until help arrives.
• If you cannot find or turn the main shutoff, call the water utility to shut the curb stop.
• If the line is a fire sprinkler, contact the fire protection contractor and building management, not a plumber.

Related Questions

Sources

• Denver Water: Leaks and Emergencies
• EPA: What to Do After a Flood