A burst pipe can put a lot of water into a house quickly, and what you do in the first half hour decides how much damage it does. Here are the steps, in order, plus what to expect when the plumber arrives. For every service, see our page on Portland plumbing help.
1. Shut off the main water valve
This comes before anything else. The main valve is usually where the water line enters the house, near the water meter, and in most homes with a basement that's on a basement wall. Turn a round handle clockwise until it stops, or turn a lever a quarter turn so it sits across the pipe. If you can't find it or it won't move, read how to find your main shut-off and call a plumber right away.
2. Make it safe
- Keep out of standing water near outlets, appliances, extension cords or the electrical panel.
- If water is reaching the panel or you can't safely get to it, leave the power alone and call your utility or an electrician.
- If a ceiling is sagging with water, stay out from under it.
3. Drain the lines
Open a cold faucet on the lowest floor, and flush toilets, to empty the water still in the pipes. That takes pressure off the broken section and reduces how much more water escapes. If the water will be off for a while, ask the plumber on the phone whether to turn off your water heater.
4. Protect your things
- Move furniture, electronics, rugs and boxes away from the water.
- Put buckets under drips and soak up what you can with towels.
- Take photos and video of the damage and the broken pipe for your insurer before cleaning up.
5. Call for help
Call a plumber to repair the pipe. If you rent, call your landlord or property manager too. In a triple-decker or apartment building, warn the neighbors below. If drywall, insulation or flooring got soaked, a water damage restoration company can dry the structure so mold doesn't follow.
What the plumber will do
Confirm the water is off
And cap or isolate the broken section so the rest of the house can have water back if possible.
Find the cause
In a Portland winter that's usually a freeze, so expect questions about where the pipe runs and how it got cold.
Repair and test
Replace the damaged section and pressure test the line.
Prevent a repeat
Insulation, heat cable or rerouting. See frozen and burst pipe repair.