My pipe has burst. What do I do right now?
Turn the water off at the main shutoff. Do that first, before towels, buckets or phone calls.
The main is usually where the water line enters the house, often in the basement, a utility room or a crawl space near the front wall. It may be a round handle or a lever. Turn a lever a quarter turn so it sits across the pipe.
Next, open the lowest tap in the house, such as a laundry sink, a basement bath or an outside hose bib. That drains the water still sitting in the pipes and takes the pressure off the split.
If water has reached a ceiling, stay out from under it. A ceiling holding water can come down all at once and is heavier than it looks. If water is near outlets or appliances, keep clear of them.
Then call (240) 695-4415. Between 7:00 AM and 7:00 PM a person answers. Outside those hours, send the form or leave a message and we respond during business hours. A burst pipe is scheduled within 48 hours, ahead of routine work.
While you wait, call your insurer to open a claim if the damage is more than a towel can handle, and keep the split section of pipe once it is cut out. An adjuster may ask to see it.
Want it looked at?
Once the water is off, take photos of the split and the damage. They help the plumber and any insurance claim.