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A pipe burst. Stop the water, then think about what got wet.

The visible leak is only part of the problem. Water can travel into floors, walls, cabinets and insulation long before the surface looks dry.

Burst household pipe spraying water inside an opened wall
!
Water and electricity are a dangerous combination.

Do not enter standing water around outlets, appliances, extension cords or the electrical panel.

1

Shut off the appropriate valve

If you know the shutoff and can reach it without entering a hazard, stop the flow. If not, keep people away and get appropriate help.

2

Protect unaffected belongings

Move dry items away from the wet zone when it can be done safely, but avoid dragging contaminated or saturated items through clean rooms.

3

Remove standing water and start drying

Extraction is useful, but drying the structure is what prevents trapped moisture from becoming the next problem.

Think beyond what you can see. Baseboards, drywall, subflooring, insulation, toe-kicks and wall cavities can hold moisture after the visible puddle is gone.

4

Create a simple damage record

Photograph the failed pipe, affected rooms and materials before major removal. Keep notes about when the leak was discovered and when the water was shut off.

Professional drying is more likely to be useful when:
  • Water crossed multiple rooms or floors.
  • Drywall, insulation, cabinets or subflooring are wet.
  • The leak ran for an unknown length of time.
  • You cannot verify that hidden materials are drying.

Need the full recovery sequence?

Use the first-step checklist from documentation through drying and repairs.

Open the checklist