What to Do When a Pipe Bursts: 7 Steps in Order

A burst pipe keeps pouring water until the main shut-off valve is closed, so the order of your first moves decides how much damage you pay for. Follow these seven steps to stop the water, make wet wiring safe, protect your insurance claim and start drying inside the 24–48 hours EPA sets to prevent mold. Every step comes from Baltimore City DPW, CDC, EPA or NAIC guidance.

Call (410) 555-0199

Water still running? Close the main valve first, then call.

The short version

Close the main water shut-off valve.
Open the lowest faucet to drain the lines.
Cut power to wet areas only from a dry spot.
Turn off the water heater.
Photograph the damage before cleanup.
Call a plumber, then your insurer.
Dry everything within 24 to 48 hours.

Step 1 of 7

Close the main water shut-off valve

Close the main shut-off valve before anything else. Baltimore City DPW says the service line usually enters the home in the basement or utility area, and the main valve sits where it comes through the wall.

A round wheel handle is a gate valve: turn it clockwise, which can take two or more full turns.
A lever handle is a ball valve: turn it a quarter turn until the lever sits across the pipe.

Use the valve inside your home. In Baltimore City the meter and valves in the curb vault are City equipment, and City Code § 21-6 bars anyone without DPW permission from tampering with them; call 311 when the water has to be shut off there. Valve types and where to look in rowhouses, apartments and detached houses are covered in finding your main water shut-off valve.

Step 2 of 7

Open the lowest faucet to drain the lines

Closing the main stops new water, but the pipes still hold water that runs out through the break. Open a faucet on the lowest floor so that water drains into a sink instead of your ceiling. The Institute for Business & Home Safety advises leaving the faucets open until repairs are complete.

Step 3 of 7

Cut power to wet areas, only from a dry spot

When circuits or electrical equipment are wet or near water, CDC says to turn off the power at the main breaker or fuse box.

Never stand in water to reach the panel. CDC advises calling an electrician when you would have to enter standing water, and never switching power on or off, or using an electric tool, while standing in water.

Step 4 of 7

Turn off the water heater

Switch an electric water heater off at its power switch, then at its circuit breaker. Manufacturer A. O. Smith warns that the tank must be full again before the power goes back on; heating an element without water around it burns the element out. Set a gas water heater’s control to its pilot or vacation setting.

Step 5 of 7

Photograph the damage before you clean up

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) tells policyholders to take photos or video of damaged areas and belongings, and to jot down notes on significant damage.

Keep every receipt for emergency repairs, such as the plumber’s visit and fans or a wet vacuum.
Hold off on permanent repairs until you have talked to your insurer; NAIC notes that a company may not pay for repairs it did not authorize.

Step 6 of 7

Call a plumber, then your insurer

A closed main valve leaves the house without water, so the broken section needs a repair before service goes back on. Speedy Plumbing Baltimore answers (410) 555-0199 around the clock for that repair.

NAIC advises notifying your insurance company as soon as you know there is damage and decide to file, and mentioning that you have photos, video and estimates when you call.

Step 7 of 7

Dry everything within 24 to 48 hours

Dry water-damaged areas and belongings within 24 to 48 hours. EPA sets that window to prevent mold growth, and CDC advises running fans and dehumidifiers once the electricity is safe to use.

EPA says a moldy area smaller than about 10 square feet, roughly a 3-foot by 3-foot patch, is a job most homeowners can handle; larger areas call for a professional.

Does homeowners insurance cover a burst pipe?

Standard homeowners policies cover sudden and accidental water discharge from plumbing, including burst pipes, and exclude wear and tear and lack of maintenance. NAIC warns that a burst pipe may not be covered when an insurer finds freeze prevention was neglected.

NAIC adds that most policies expect a home to be kept at a minimum temperature, or its water shut off, when it sits vacant. Outside the house, Baltimore City DPW notes that homeowners insurance typically does not cover repairs to exterior underground water lines, and the customer pays to maintain the service pipe on their property. Check your own policy for the exact terms. What the repair itself typically costs is broken down in the burst pipe repair cost guide.

Burst pipe questions

Should I turn off the water or the electricity first?

Turn off the water first unless water is reaching outlets, wiring or the electrical panel. When wiring is wet, CDC says to shut power at the main breaker only from a dry spot and to call an electrician if reaching it means standing in water.

How fast do I need to dry things out after a pipe bursts?

Within 24 to 48 hours. EPA sets that window to prevent mold growth. Run fans and dehumidifiers once the electricity is safe, and move out anything that cannot be dried in that time.

Who pays for a burst water line outside the house in Baltimore City?

Baltimore City DPW maintains outdoor water lines up to and including the meter. The line from the meter into the house is the property owner’s responsibility, and DPW notes homeowners insurance typically does not cover exterior underground lines.

Get the broken pipe repaired

Once the water is off, the damaged section still needs a permanent repair and a pressure test before the main goes back on. Repair methods for copper, galvanized, PEX and cast iron are compared on our Baltimore burst and leaking pipe repair page.

Sources

Checked 2026-09-13. Plumbing and safety guidance changes; follow your utility’s and insurer’s current instructions.

Pipe still leaking?

Close the main valve, then call Speedy Plumbing Baltimore for the repair. The line is answered 24 hours a day.

Call (410) 555-0199