Burst pipe? What to do first.

1. Turn off the water

Find your home's main water shut-off valve and close it. Common places: the basement wall facing the street, a utility room, near the water meter, or in a crawl space. Turning the valve clockwise usually closes it. If you cannot find it or it is stuck, skip to step 3 and call — do not waste time searching while water is spreading.

2. Stay safe around electricity

If water is near outlets, switches, or the electrical panel, do not touch anything electrical and do not step into standing water. If it is safe to reach your breaker panel without walking through water, switch off power to the affected area. If you are unsure, stay out of the room and wait for help.

3. Drain the remaining water

Once the main valve is off, open cold-water taps on the lowest floor and flush toilets to drain what is left in the pipes. This slows the leak and reduces pressure. Leave the taps open until the plumber arrives.

4. Protect what you can

Move rugs, electronics, papers, and furniture away from the water if you can do it safely. Take photos and a short video of the damage before you move things — your insurance company may ask for them later.

5. Call a plumber — with the right details

Call and say, in plain words:

• Your city and state.
• Where the pipe burst (kitchen, bathroom, basement, wall, ceiling).
• Whether you turned the water off.
• How much water there is, and whether it is still spreading.

The more clearly you describe it, the faster the plumber can tell you what happens next.

After the repair

Ask the plumber what caused the burst — freezing, age, corrosion, or high water pressure — and what would prevent it happening again. In cold weather, pipes in unheated spaces are the most common victims, and simple insulation helps.