What to do in the first hour after a burst pipe.
By Carlos · All Action Water Damage · Updated June 2026
A burst pipe can put hundreds of gallons into your home fast. What you do in the first 60 minutes decides how bad it gets. Here's the order of operations.
Six moves, in order.
Shut off the water
Find your main shutoff (often in the garage, a basement, or an outside box near the street) and turn it clockwise. This stops the flooding at the source.
Cut the power if water is near outlets
If water is near outlets, panels, or appliances, switch off electricity to that area at the breaker — only if you can do it safely and not while standing in water.
Drain the lines
Open the lowest faucets in the house and flush toilets to drain remaining water out of the pipes and away from the leak.
Move and protect
Get furniture, rugs, electronics, and valuables off wet floors. Put foil or wood blocks under furniture legs to prevent stains.
Document everything
Take photos and video of the source and all damage before you clean up. This is the backbone of your insurance claim.
Call a restoration pro
Mopping isn't enough — water wicks into walls, subfloor, and crawlspaces. Call us 24/7; we're there with fast emergency response to extract and start drying.
Drywall, baseboards, and flooring start absorbing within minutes, and mold can begin in 24–48 hours. Fast extraction is the difference between drying in place and tearing out.