A pipe just burst. What do I do first?
Close the main water shutoff, then open a faucet on the lowest floor to drain the lines. If water is near outlets, fixtures or the electrical panel, keep clear and cut power from a dry location.
- Shut off the main. It is usually where the water line enters the house, often next to the meter. Turn it clockwise until it stops. If it will not budge, do not force it until it breaks; call a plumber.
- Relieve the pressure. Open a cold faucet at the lowest point in the house so the lines drain instead of pushing more water out of the break.
- Watch the electricity. If water is coming through a ceiling near a light fixture, stay out from under it and turn off that circuit at the panel if you can reach it from a dry spot. The CDC says never to switch power while standing in water.
- Photograph the break, the water and anything damaged.
- Call a plumber to fix the pipe and a water damage restoration company to dry the house. They are different trades. Press 1 on our line and we connect you with a local restoration company.
How do I know if a pipe is frozen before it bursts?
If you turn on a faucet and only a trickle comes out on a very cold day, the Red Cross says to suspect a frozen pipe.
Frozen pipes are most common in exterior walls, under sinks on outside walls, in crawl spaces, attics and garages, and anywhere insulation is thin. A pipe can split from the pressure of ice and not leak until it thaws, so check the area around a frozen pipe as it warms up.
How do I thaw a frozen pipe safely?
Keep the faucet open and apply gentle heat to the frozen section, such as a hair dryer or warm towels, until full pressure returns. The Red Cross says never use a blowtorch, kerosene or propane heater, charcoal stove or any other open flame.
Open flame can start a fire inside a wall. If you cannot reach the frozen section, cannot find it, or the pipe is already cracked, call a plumber. Have towels and a bucket ready as it thaws, and know where your main shutoff is before you start.
How cold does it have to get in Naperville for pipes to freeze?
There is no single number, but Chicago-area winters reach the danger zone every year. The National Weather Service's 1991 to 2020 normal January low for Chicago is about 19 degrees, and cold snaps go far below that.
Naperville's recorded low is minus 29 degrees. Exposed pipes, wind on an outside wall and an unheated garage are what turn a cold night into a burst line. The prevention section below is the cheapest water damage insurance there is.
What does drying out after a burst pipe involve?
Extracting standing water, opening up wet ceilings or walls where needed, and running dehumidifiers and air movers while tracking moisture readings. A burst pipe often starts as clean Category 1 water, which gives the best chance to save materials if drying starts quickly.
Clean water does not stay clean. The IICRC framework notes that Category 1 water can degrade to Category 2 or 3 as it sits and mixes with building materials. A pipe that burst over a weekend while you were away is a different job from one caught in ten minutes. Water from a ceiling also tends to soak insulation and drywall below it, which is typical of the IICRC's Class 3, the heaviest evaporation load. Ask the company to show you their moisture readings and explain what can be dried in place versus removed.
Does homeowners insurance cover a burst pipe?
Generally yes, if the damage was sudden and accidental. The Insurance Information Institute notes most homeowners policies cover sudden, accidental water damage such as a burst pipe. Damage from a slow leak or poor maintenance generally is not covered.
Some policies have conditions about keeping heat on in a vacant home or draining lines if you are away, so read yours. Photograph everything and keep the broken section of pipe if the plumber removes it. See our Illinois insurance guide.
How do I keep pipes from freezing next winter?
The Red Cross recommends opening cabinet doors under sinks so warm air reaches the pipes, letting cold water drip from faucets served by exposed pipes in very cold weather, keeping garage doors closed if water lines run through the garage, and never setting the heat below 55 degrees when you are away.
- Keep the thermostat at the same temperature day and night during a cold snap.
- Disconnect garden hoses and shut off outdoor spigots from inside before winter.
- Ask a plumber about insulating pipes in exterior walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- If you travel in winter, have someone check the house.
For everything else, including mold timing, costs and choosing a company, read the Naperville water damage guide.