Burst pipes and supply lines
A pipe let go. Close the main valve before you do anything else.
A supply line runs at street pressure and keeps running until someone closes a valve. Here is what to do in the next five minutes, what the repair and the drying should cost, and who to call.
Turn off the main water valve now. If water is near outlets, the panel or anything plugged in, do not walk through it. Turn off the breaker only if you can reach the panel from a dry spot, otherwise stay out and call 911 or your utility.
Where is my main valve? ›BestHonestPro is a free comparison resource, not a contractor. There is nothing to sign up for and we do not sell your details. When we begin connecting callers to contractors, we will be paid a referral fee by the contractor, never by you, and this line will say so.
The next five minutes
Do this now
- Close the main shutoff. Turn clockwise until it stops.
- Open a low faucet (tub or outside spigot) to drain pressure out of the lines.
- If the leak is near electricity, kill the breaker from a dry location or leave it and call the utility.
- Move furniture, rugs and boxes off the wet floor.
- Take photos before you mop anything.
- Call a plumber for the pipe, then restoration for the drying if more than one room got wet.
Do not
- Do not use a shop vac or any plugged-in tool while standing in water. The CDC says never use an electric tool or appliance while standing in water.
- Do not wait until morning to close the valve. Every hour adds square feet to the drying bill.
- Do not sign anything a restoration company brings to the door tonight. The pipe comes first, the paperwork can wait.
Which one is it?
Pick what you are looking at
Each answer tells you what is probably happening, what to shut off, who to call and what it should cost.
Published cost ranges
What it should cost
National published ranges, not a quote for your job. Use them to judge whether the number in front of you is in the right place.
| Burst pipe repairBurst pipe repair, national range, average $1,200. Drying and repair of what got wet is extra. | $400 to $2,000 |
|---|---|
| A pipe that burst after freezingRepair of a pipe that burst after freezing, national range. Thawing alone is billed hourly, $100 to $500 an hour at emergency rates | $200 to $3,000, averaging $500 |
| Drying out what got wetWater damage restoration, typical range, national average $3,868, full span $450 to $16,000. Compare against your deductible. | $1,383 to $6,369 |
Source: HomeGuide, burst pipe repair cost, 2026; Angi, burst pipe repair cost, updated August 2026, and Angi, emergency plumber cost, updated September 2026; Angi, water damage restoration cost, updated September 2026.
Insurance. A burst pipe is the textbook sudden and accidental loss. The Texas Department of Insurance lists it as covered, and warns that the insurer may deny the claim if you do not protect the property, so shut the water off and document it. In Florida, read what a Florida policy usually pays after a leak.
Before anyone comes out
Ask these on the phone
Is this the emergency rate, and what would the same repair cost in business hours?
Will you find and repair the break tonight, or just cap it and come back?
Can you tell me whether the rest of the run is the same age and material, and whether it is likely to go next?
Do you moisture test the wall cavity before you close it, or should I have a restoration company do that?
Turn it off. Then call the right people.
Bring the questions above to every company you call, and compare the answers.
BestHonestPro is a free comparison resource, not a contractor. There is nothing to sign up for and we do not sell your details. When we begin connecting callers to contractors, we will be paid a referral fee by the contractor, never by you, and this line will say so.