What to Do If a Pipe Bursts in Your Home

The sound of rushing water inside your home when no faucet is running is a noise that triggers instant panic. It is the sound of a plumbing emergency unfolding in real time. A burst pipe is one of the most destructive events a homeowner can face. In a matter of minutes, gallons of water can flood your living space, destroying drywall, soaking carpets, and ruining furniture. The sheer volume of water released by a pressurized supply line is staggering. A half inch pipe can release hundreds of gallons of water in an hour. This creates a chaotic situation where every second counts.

For homeowners in Broken Arrow and the surrounding Tulsa area, burst pipes are a reality that can happen due to freezing winter temperatures, shifting soil, or simply the age of the plumbing system. The difference between a manageable cleanup and a catastrophic financial loss often comes down to how quickly you react in the first few moments. Panic paralysis is your worst enemy. Knowing the exact steps to take immediately can save your home from severe structural damage. It requires a clear head and a plan of action.

Stop the Flow Immediately

The single most critical action you must take is to shut off the water supply. Do not wait to find a bucket or towels. Those are secondary concerns. Your primary goal is to cut the source of the water. To do this, you must know the location of your main water shut off valve. Every adult in your household needs to know where this valve is located before an emergency occurs. If you are reading this and do not know where yours is, finding it should be your top priority today.

In many homes in our area, the main shut off valve is located in the garage. It is often found near the water heater or on the perimeter wall closest to the street. Look for a handle sticking out of a pipe coming through the wall or floor. If the handle is a lever, it is a ball valve. You must turn the lever until it is perpendicular to the pipe to stop the flow. If it is a round wheel handle, it is a gate valve. You must turn this handle clockwise as far as it will go. Be aware that old gate valves can sometimes be difficult to turn or may even break if forced, so apply steady, firm pressure rather than jerking it.

If you cannot find a valve inside the house, you likely have a curb stop valve. This is located in the underground meter box near the street or sidewalk. You will see a concrete or plastic lid in the ground. You may need a tool like a screwdriver or a wrench to pry the lid open. Inside, near the water meter, is a valve that controls water to the entire property. In some cases, you might need a specialized water meter key to turn this valve, which is available at most local hardware stores. Turning this valve off cuts all water to the home and stops the flooding instantly.

Ensure Electrical Safety

Once the water is off, your next immediate concern is safety. Water and electricity are a deadly combination. Before you step into a flooded room or try to move wet items, you must assess the electrical risk. If the water has risen to the level of electrical outlets or if water is spraying onto appliances, you are in danger of electrocution. Do not touch anything wet if you are standing in water.

Go to your main circuit breaker panel, which is usually in the garage, a utility closet, or the basement. If you can safely reach the panel without walking through water, turn off the main breaker to cut power to the entire house. If the panel itself is in a wet area, do not touch it. In this scenario, you must evacuate the home and call the power company to disconnect service at the meter. It is always better to be in the dark than to risk a fatal shock.

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Pay close attention to light fixtures and ceiling fans if the leak is coming from the ceiling. Water will pool on the drywall above the ceiling and often flow through light fixture boxes because they penetrate the drywall. This energizes the water and the fixture itself. Keep your distance from these areas. If you see sagging drywall in the ceiling, stay away from underneath it. The weight of the water can cause the entire ceiling to collapse without warning, bringing heavy wet drywall and insulation down on top of you.

Relieve the Pressure in the System

After the main water valve is closed, there is still water trapped inside your pipes. This water is under pressure and will continue to drain out through the burst pipe until the lines are empty. You can speed up this process and divert the water away from the damage by opening your faucets. Go to the lowest level of your home, such as a basement sink or an outdoor spigot, and open the cold water tap.

Simultaneously, go to the highest level of your home and open a faucet there as well. This introduces air into the plumbing system, breaking the vacuum. Gravity will pull the remaining water out of the pipes and exit through the lower faucet you opened. This simple step can stop the dripping at the burst site much faster than waiting for it to bleed out on its own. It minimizes the amount of water soaking into your walls and floors.

While you are draining the system, flush your toilets. This empties the tanks and removes that water from the equation. The goal is to get as much water out of the plumbing system as possible in a controlled manner so that it does not end up on your floor. Once the flow has stopped completely, leave the faucets open. This will help if any residual water expands due to temperature changes and ensures the system is depressurized when the plumber arrives to make repairs.

Call a Professional Plumber

With the immediate threat contained, it is time to call for help. A burst pipe is not a DIY repair project. It requires the skills, tools, and materials of a licensed professional to fix correctly and permanently. You need to contact a plumbing company that offers emergency services. Sargent Plumbing and Drain provides reliable, 24/7 response for situations exactly like this. When you call, be clear that you have a plumbing emergency. Tell the dispatcher that you have already shut off the water to the home.

Ask for an estimated time of arrival so you can plan your next steps. While you wait, do not attempt to patch the pipe yourself with duct tape or gum. These methods will not hold against water pressure and will only make the plumber’s job more difficult later. If the pipe is accessible, you can look at it to see if it is a split in the copper, a failed fitting, or a frozen section, but leave the repair to the experts.

A professional plumber does more than just patch the hole. They inspect the system to understand why the pipe failed. If it was due to freezing, they can recommend better insulation or rerouting options. If it was due to age or high water pressure, they can check the rest of the system to ensure another pipe isn’t about to burst in a different location. Their expertise provides the peace of mind that the problem is truly solved, not just covered up.

Document the Damage for Insurance

Before you start the heavy cleanup, you need to document everything. Your homeowner’s insurance policy likely covers water damage from a sudden and accidental burst pipe, but you have to prove the extent of the loss. Take out your smartphone and take clear, well lit photos of the damage. Photograph the burst pipe itself if it is visible. Photograph the standing water on the floor, the wet drywall, the soaked carpet, and any furniture or personal belongings that have been damaged.

Video is also very helpful. Walk through the affected area and narrate what you are seeing. Point out the water level, the source of the leak, and specific items that are ruined. Do not throw anything away yet. Even if a rug is ruined, keep it until the insurance adjuster has seen it or given you permission to dispose of it. If you throw it away, you might not get compensated for it.

Keep a detailed record of every action you take and every professional you hire. Save the invoice from the plumber. If you have to buy a wet vac or fans, save those receipts. If you have to stay in a hotel because the home is uninhabitable, keep the hotel and meal receipts. All of these expenses may be reimbursable under your policy. The more documentation you have, the smoother the claims process will be.

Mitigate the Damage

Once you have documented the scene, you have a responsibility to prevent further damage. Insurance companies call this “mitigating the loss.” If you leave water sitting on your hardwood floors for days while waiting for an adjuster, the insurance company may deny the claim for the floor replacement because you failed to act. Your goal is to get the water out and start the drying process as soon as possible.

If the water is deep, you may need a submersible pump or a wet dry vacuum to remove the bulk of it. Use old towels, blankets, and mops to soak up the remainder. Move wet furniture to a dry area or place aluminum foil squares under the legs to prevent the wood stain from bleeding onto wet carpet. Lift draperies off the wet floor and hang them up.

Air circulation is key to drying out the structure. Open windows if the weather permits to lower the humidity. Turn on ceiling fans and set up box fans to blow air across wet surfaces. However, if the weather is freezing, keep the windows closed to prevent further pipe freezing. If you have a dehumidifier, run it at the highest setting. Mold can begin to grow within twenty four to forty eight hours, so drying the area quickly is essential for your health.

The Role of Water Restoration Professionals

For significant leaks, soaking up water with towels is not enough. Water wicks up into drywall, insulation, and the subfloor where you cannot reach it. Trapped moisture leads to hidden mold growth and structural rot. In these cases, you need to hire a professional water restoration company. These companies have industrial grade dehumidifiers, air movers, and moisture meters that can detect water behind walls.

Sargent Plumbing and Drain focuses on fixing the plumbing issue, but we often work alongside restoration experts. The plumber fixes the pipe, and the restoration team fixes the house. They will cut out wet drywall, remove wet insulation, and pull up saturated carpet pads. They will treat the area with antimicrobial agents to prevent mold.

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Do not be afraid to cut into your walls if necessary. If a ceiling is sagging with water, poke a small hole in the center with a screwdriver to let the water drain out into a bucket. This relieves the weight and might save the ceiling from collapsing entirely. Wet drywall acts like a sponge and loses its structural integrity; it almost always needs to be replaced. Accepting this early on makes the restoration process faster.

Understanding Why Pipes Burst

Understanding the cause of the break can help you prevent it from happening again. In Oklahoma, the most common culprit is freezing weather. Water expands when it freezes. If a pipe in an unheated attic or exterior wall freezes, the ice creates immense pressure that splits the pipe. When the ice thaws, the water floods out. Proper insulation and keeping the heat on during winter are the best defenses.

High water pressure is another frequent cause. If your home’s water pressure is above eighty PSI, it stresses the pipes and joints constantly. Over time, this weakens the system until a weak spot blows out. A plumber can install a pressure reducing valve to protect your plumbing.

Corrosion is the silent killer of older pipes. Galvanized steel pipes rust from the inside out, thinning the walls until they give way. Even copper pipes can develop pinhole leaks due to water chemistry or turbulence. If your home has old, corroded plumbing, a burst pipe might be a sign that a whole home repipe is necessary to prevent future disasters.

A burst pipe is a stressful and damaging event, but it does not have to be a tragedy. Your reaction speed makes all the difference. By immediately shutting off the water, ensuring safety, and draining the system, you limit the destruction. Once the crisis is contained, relying on trusted professionals is the path to recovery.

At Sargent Plumbing and Drain, we understand the urgency of these situations. We are committed to serving the Broken Arrow community with integrity, professionalism, and speed. Our licensed plumbers are available around the clock to repair your plumbing and help you restore safety to your home. We do not just fix pipes; we help neighbors recover from emergencies. When disaster strikes, follow these steps, stay calm, and call us to handle the rest.