What Should You Do About a Pipe That Burst While You Were Away?
Stop the water first, at the main valve or with the utility at the street. Then make sure the entry is safe, photograph everything before it moves and call a restoration crew to pump out the water. A plumber repairs the pipe, and the crew handles the flooded structure, so call both right away.
Stop the Water and Check the Entry
The main shutoff is usually where the water pipe enters the house, near the meter, the water heater or a basement wall. If it will not turn or sits under water, the water utility can close the supply at the street.
Before walking in, look up and down. A ceiling that bulges or drips can fall, and water deep enough to reach outlets or appliances can carry current. When in doubt, stay out and call for help.
- Close the main valve, or ask the utility to close it at the street
- Stay out from under any ceiling that bulges, sags or drips
- Do not enter water that reaches outlets, cords or appliances
- Smell for sewage, which points to contaminated water
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Make the Power Safe
Turn off breakers only if the panel is in a dry place and the floor in front of it is dry. If reaching it means wading through water, do not go near it.
An electrician or the power utility can make the house safe. The restoration crew also checks the wiring before it works, but the owner should never gamble on a wet panel.
- Use the panel only from dry ground
- Leave the power off in wet rooms until a pro says otherwise
- Do not use a household vacuum on standing water
- Keep cords and space heaters out of wet areas
Record Before You Move Anything
Photograph and film every wet room, the water line on the walls, damaged belongings and the failed pipe if it is in view. Write down the day the family left, the day the water was found and who last checked the house.
Lift small items, papers and electronics off wet floors, but leave heavy furniture and anything that means walking through water. Call the insurer soon after the water is off and ask how the policy treats a home left empty.
- Wide shots and close-ups of every wet room
- The dates the family left and returned
- Receipts for emergency work and hotel stays
- A list of damaged belongings with rough values
Call the Crew Right Away
The extraction crew pumps out the standing water, the mitigation team removes soaked materials and the drying team sets dehumidifiers and air movers. The sooner the crew starts, the less has to come out.
Call a plumber for the pipe at the same time. Call Away From Home Pipe Burst Pros at (888) 926-4485, 24/7, and describe how many floors are wet and whether the main valve is closed.
- Tell the crew how many floors are wet
- Say whether the water is off and the panel is dry
- Arrange access if you are still traveling
- Hold off on tearing out carpet or drywall until the crew reads the moisture
Get the standing water pumped out (888) 926-4485
More Burst Pipe Questions
What Should You Do About a Pipe That Burst While You Were Away: More Answers
Should the plumber or the restoration crew be called first?
Both, right away. The plumber repairs the pipe and the restoration crew handles the water. If the water is still flowing, the plumber or the utility stops it first.
Can the crew start while the owner is still traveling?
Often. A neighbor, manager or house sitter can give access, and the owner can approve the work by phone. The crew sends photos and logs so the owner can follow along.
Is it okay to start mopping and tearing out carpet?
Small mopping is fine, but the heavy tear-out waits for the readings. The crew removes what is wet and leaves what is dry, which keeps the rebuild smaller and the claim clean.
How soon will mold become a concern?
Mold can start growing on wet materials in 24 to 48 hours. A house that sat wet while the family traveled has often passed that point, so a quick pump-out and drying matter.
Water damage gets worse by the hour. Call now to get burst pipe while away cleanup started, 24/7.