What to do if you have a burst pipe
First: Know where your water shut-off valve is and test it regularly.
Even if you just need to make a few repairs, knowing how and where to turn off your water is important for every member of the household. For most houses, this valve is usually located at the front of the home, near a hose bib. Look for a pipe coming out of the ground and going into the house. There is usually a valve, knob, or switch on this pipe that turns the water off to your home.
Some older houses may have the shut off valve located at the rear of the property. Homes with basements may have the shut off valve located inside the basement or a crawlspace, on a wall facing the street.
If a Pipe Breaks:
- Turn off the water to your house at the main shut-off valve.
- Call a plumber.
- Leave faucets open until all repairs have been completed.
If a Faucet or Pipe Freezes:
- If you turn on your faucets and nothing comes out, leave the faucets on and call a plumber.
- Try thawing a frozen faucet with a hair dryer – if there is no standing water in the area.
- To thaw a frozen pipe, heat water on your stove, and soak towels in the hot water, then wrap the towels around the cold sections of pipe. Start out as close to the faucet as possible and make sure the faucet is turned on so that as the ice melts, the water can drip out. If you cannot locate where the pipe is frozen, call a plumber.