Burst pipe: what to do first
Every minute that water runs adds to the damage, so the first job is to stop it. A typical supply line can release many gallons in a few minutes. Our crews are dispatched around the clock, and same-day appointments are available for slow leaks that are not actively flooding.
- Close the main shutoff valve for the house. It is usually near the water meter or where the pipe enters the basement. Turn a gate valve clockwise or a ball valve a quarter turn.
- Open the faucets at the lowest and highest points in the house to drain the lines and relieve pressure.
- Turn off the water heater's power or gas if the burst is on a hot line, so the heater does not run dry and overheat.
- Switch off breakers for any room with water near outlets or fixtures. Do not stand in water to reach the panel. If the panel is wet, call the electric utility.
- Call (973) 488-5410. Tell us where the water is coming from and whether the main valve stopped the flow.
If the main valve will not turn or does not stop the flow, tell us at once. The curb valve at the street belongs to the water utility and should not be touched without them.
Why pipes burst
The usual story is freezing. Water expands about 9 percent when it turns to ice, and the pipe usually does not split where the ice sits. It splits where pressure builds between the ice plug and a closed faucet. Pipes in exterior walls, unheated crawl spaces, garages and basements near windows are the most exposed.
Pipes also fail without cold. Old galvanized steel rusts from the inside until a thin spot gives way. Copper develops pinholes from corrosion. Water hammer, high water pressure and a poor solder joint can all split a fitting. Identifying the cause matters because the same cause will hit the next section of pipe.
Pipe material and how each one bursts
The material in your walls decides what failed, how it looks and how it is repaired.
| Material | How it typically fails | Usual repair |
|---|---|---|
| Copper | Longitudinal split from freezing, or pinholes from corrosion | Cut out the damaged section, install new copper with a press or sweat coupling |
| Galvanized steel | Rusted-through thin spot, threaded joint leaks | Replace the run, because the rest is usually just as thin |
| PEX | Splits less often when frozen, fittings can fail or the tubing can get punctured | Cut out the section and install crimped or expansion fittings |
| CPVC | Becomes brittle with age, cracks at fittings | Replace the section with new CPVC or transition to PEX |
| Cast iron (drain) | Cracks or separated joints, sewage leaks rather than clean water | Cut out and replace with no-hub couplings or new pipe |
A single burst on old galvanized pipe is a sign of weakness along the whole line. We explain whether a spot repair will hold before we do it.
If your house has repeat failures, our repiping page explains when replacing whole runs makes more sense than patching.
How a burst pipe is repaired
After the water is off, we drain the line and cut out the damaged section with a tubing cutter or a saw, leaving clean, round ends. A spot repair joins new pipe with a coupling that matches the material. On copper, that is a soldered or pressed fitting. On PEX, it is a crimp ring or expansion sleeve.
We then restore pressure slowly and watch every joint, because a second weak spot often shows up only when pressure returns. Air is purged from the lines, and we leave the access open for a short time to confirm nothing weeps.
Pipe burst and water still running?
Call the 24/7 line after you close the main valve. We will send a licensed plumber with a clear price before work starts.
Call (973) 488-5410Thawing a frozen pipe without making it worse
If a pipe has frozen but not yet split, you may still be able to save it. Open the faucet nearest the freeze so water and steam can escape as the ice melts. Warm the pipe slowly, starting at the faucet end and working toward the frozen spot, using a hair dryer or warm towels.
Never use an open flame, a torch or a propane heater. They scorch framing and can melt soldered joints. If you cannot find the frozen section or the pipe is inside a wall, stop and call. A pipe can split as it thaws, and the water will not show until the ice melts.
Burst on the street side or the house side
If the water is coming from the street, the curb or the meter pit, it is a water main or service issue. In Kearny, report water main breaks, leaks and disruptions to Veolia at (201) 955-7406. Weekdays 8 am to 4 pm it reaches the office, and nights, weekends and holidays it goes to a 24/7 answering service.
A burst inside the house, after the meter, is private plumbing and is ours to repair. If a break turns out to be on the buried line from the meter to the house, our water service line repair page explains what that work involves.
According to the state Uniform Construction Code, ordinary maintenance such as routine repair is exempt from a permit, but replacing long runs of pipe is plumbing work on an existing building and needs a construction permit. Ask the Kearny construction code office which side of that line your repair falls on.
What affects the price of burst pipe repair
We give a clear price before work starts. These factors decide the cost of a burst pipe repair.
Water damage cleanup and drying are separate from the pipe repair. Want your real number? Call (973) 488-5410 and tell us where the pipe burst.
After the repair: protect the house and the claim
Once the water is stopped and the pipe is fixed, a few steps keep a bad night from becoming a bad month.
- Photograph and video every damaged area before you start cleanup, then keep receipts.
- Call your insurance company soon. Burst pipe damage from freezing is commonly covered as sudden damage, but policies differ.
- Dry out wet materials fast. Fans and dehumidifiers help, and wet drywall or insulation often needs to come out.
- Check the other pipes that share the same wall or run for soft spots or leaks.
- Insulate exposed pipes in cold areas and keep a slow drip of water running on freezing nights in exposed lines.
If you cannot see where the water went, a leak detection visit can confirm the line is tight.
Older buildings, tight blocks and permits in Kearny
Kearny's mills and housing date to the late 1800s and early 1900s, so older homes are common. As a general matter, houses built before about 1960 often have galvanized supply pipe, which is the type most likely to fail in a spot and reveal weakness in the rest of the run.
Row houses and two-family homes with shared walls can pass water to the neighbors, so shutoffs matter. Our Harrison plumbing page covers the dense blocks next door. On permits, the NJ Uniform Construction Code lists ordinary maintenance, including routine repair, as the only exemption from a construction permit. A larger replacement may need one, so ask the Kearny construction code office.
Frequently asked questions
It depends on where the pipe is, what it is made of, how much is damaged and how much wall has to be opened. A spot repair on an exposed pipe is the lowest tier. A split inside a finished ceiling or a long run is higher. We give a clear price before work starts. Call (973) 488-5410 for a real number.
Yes. The dispatch line is open 24 hours, seven days a week, including holidays. Cold snaps often cause nighttime calls. Close your main valve first, then call. Same-day appointments cover slow leaks and follow-up repairs when the schedule allows.
It is usually in the basement near the water meter, or where the pipe enters the house through the foundation wall. Look for a wheel handle or a lever. Find it before an emergency and make sure it turns. A stuck valve is worth replacing.
Many homeowners policies cover sudden water damage from a burst pipe, including freezing, but terms vary and the pipe repair itself may not be covered. Take photos, keep receipts, and call your insurer promptly. We can describe what we found in writing.
A temporary clamp or a push-fit coupling can hold a small split until a plumber arrives. For a lasting fix the pipe needs to be cut, deburred and joined correctly. A mistake can leave a slow leak inside a wall, which is worse than the original break.
Usually only until the section is replaced. We can often isolate part of the house with local shutoffs, but where none exist we use the main valve. Most burst pipe repairs restore water the same day.
Insulate pipes in unheated spaces, seal drafts near pipes in exterior walls, open cabinet doors under sinks on very cold nights, and let faucets drip. Disconnect outdoor hoses and shut off exterior spigots. If you leave town, keep the heat on.
Pipe already burst? Close the main valve and call the 24/7 line. A dispatcher will take it from there.
Call (973) 488-5410