When a pipe bursts while nobody's home, the water can run for hours or days. The damage is usually bigger than a burst you catch right away, and it's often spread across more than one floor. Don't panic. Work through it in this order.
1. Shut off the water and check the power
Find the main shut-off, usually in the basement or a utility closet, and turn it off. If water has reached outlets, the furnace or the electrical panel, don't walk through it. Turn off power at the panel only if you can reach it from a dry spot.
2. Check every level, top to bottom
- Upstairs: bathrooms, the laundry room and any sink on an outside wall
- Main floor: ceilings for stains or sagging, floors near the kitchen and bathrooms
- Basement: standing water, wet carpet, the water heater area and the main valve
- Garage and crawl space: pipes in unheated spaces are the usual cause after a cold snap
Stay out from under any ceiling that's sagging.
3. Document before you clean
Take photos and video of every room before moving anything, plus a photo of the thermostat. Insurers often ask whether the heat was on during a freeze, so that photo matters. Our post on insurance for burst pipes in Colorado explains why.
4. Why days-old water is different
Water that sat for days has soaked deeper into drywall, subfloor and framing, and mold may already be starting in closed spaces. That changes the job: more needs to be checked with meters, some materials may need to come out, and drying takes longer. It also makes speed more important, not less. Read about mold after a burst pipe.
5. Next time you travel in winter
- Keep the heat at 55°F or higher
- Shut off the main valve and drain the lines for longer trips
- Have someone check the house during a cold snap
More on keeping pipes from freezing.
Quick answers
Is it safe to stay in the house?
If the power is safe and there's no sagging ceiling or strong musty smell, most people can stay. If the water sat for days or came from a drain, call us first.
Can carpet be saved if the water sat for days?
Usually not the pad, and often not the carpet either once it has been wet that long. We check it and tell you honestly.
Related help
What to do when a pipe bursts
The first steps, in order.
ServiceBurst Pipe in the Basement
Standing water pumped out, carpet and walls checked, and the basement dried out.