Burst Pipe: The First 60 Minutes (What to Do, In Order)

A residential supply line at 60 PSI releases 6-10 gallons per minute when it fails. In one hour, that is 360-600 gallons of water flooding your home. The difference between a $500 repair and a $50,000 damage claim is almost entirely about what you do in the first 60 minutes.

This is the exact sequence.

Minute 0-2: Stop the Water

Before anything else — before photos, before calling anyone, before clean-up:

Run to the main shutoff valve. If you do not know where yours is, find it now (do not wait for the emergency to learn). See our shutoff guide.
Close it. Quarter-turn ball valve: perpendicular to the pipe. Round gate valve: clockwise to stop.
Verify flow stopped. Open a faucet — water should drain rather than continue running.

If you cannot operate the main, go straight to the curb stop at the meter outside. If that also fails, call the City of Round Rock Utilities emergency line at 512-218-5555.

Minute 2-5: Drain the Lines

Even with the main off, pipes throughout the house still hold pressurized water. Draining the system limits the spread:

Open the lowest faucet in the house (often a basement utility sink or outdoor hose bib)
Open a high faucet (upstairs bathroom)
Flush all toilets once
Let everything drain — should take 1-2 minutes

While that drains, the burst is no longer spraying actively. You can now think.

Minute 5-10: Power and Heat Decisions

Wet pipes can lead to wet electrical:

If water is reaching outlets or wiring — kill power to the affected area at the breaker panel. Do not stand in standing water to reach electrical.
If the burst was caused by a freeze — do not turn off the heat. You need to thaw the system safely.
If the water heater is involved — turn off gas (knob to OFF) or breaker, AND close the cold supply valve at the heater.

Minute 10-20: Containment

Now contain damage:

Move belongings out of the water. Furniture, rugs, electronics. Anything not already wet, get it out.
Photograph everything before you move it. Insurance needs the as-found state.
Towels and buckets. Place under any active drips. Soak up standing water.
Lift wet carpet. If feasible, lift carpet at the corners and place blocks underneath. Otherwise water wicks across the entire room.

Minute 20-30: Document

Insurance documentation must be done before any major restoration work:

Photos and video of all damage — wide shots and close-ups
Photos of the burst pipe if you can locate it
Photos of any documentation showing the date — newspaper, phone date, water meter reading
Write a quick narrative — date, time of discovery, what you did and when

If you have a smart water meter, save a screenshot of the usage spike. It is one of the strongest pieces of evidence for "sudden and accidental."

Minute 30-45: Call

Now make the calls:

Plumber — our 24/7 emergency line. Tell us: burst pipe, where, when, what you have done.
Insurance company — open a claim. Get the claim number. Do not start major restoration before they advise on whether to use their preferred vendor or your choice of company.
Water restoration company — if more than a small area is affected, professional water extraction within 24-48 hours prevents mold. Many insurance claims include this.

While waiting for the plumber, keep mitigating with towels and buckets.

Minute 45-60: Stabilize

While help is en route:

Open windows or run a dehumidifier to start drying the air
Set up fans in the affected area
Move more belongings as the immediate emergency settles
Get a written estimate from any restoration company before signing anything
Make a list of damaged items with approximate value and age for insurance

What NOT to Do

Do not try to repair a burst pipe yourself unless you have the right tools, parts, and confidence. A bad repair can fail again hours later.
Do not throw anything out before insurance documents it.
Do not sign contracts at the front door for restoration work without comparing quotes.
Do not rely on shop vacs alone — professional water extraction is far more thorough.
Do not turn the water back on until the burst is repaired and pressure tested.

What If You Were Not Home When It Burst

Worst-case scenario. Water has been running for hours. The sequence is the same, but:

Be careful entering — turn off main breaker before walking in flooded areas
Call insurance immediately and start the claim before extensive cleanup
Call a water restoration company first — they are equipped to extract many hundreds of gallons quickly
Document everything before any movement — even items that look ruined
Plumber comes after the worst water is extracted to repair the pipe

This scenario is when professional water restoration is most worth its cost. Drying out a soaked home properly prevents weeks of mold remediation later.

Preventing It From Happening Again

Most burst pipes are preventable:

Freeze prevention — winter pipe prep guide
Replace aged pipe before it bursts — see signs you need repiping
Replace failed PRVs that allow high pressure damage — PRV guide
Maintain shut-off valves so they actually work when needed

Service Area

24/7 burst pipe response throughout Round Rock, Cedar Park, Pflugerville, Georgetown, Hutto, and Leander.