Pipe Burst in the House: Do This in Order
Speed matters. These steps keep damage small until a plumber arrives.
Close the main water shutoff.
Turn the main valve clockwise until it stops. A ball valve with a lever closes with a quarter turn. If the valve is stuck or buried in a meter box, tell the dispatcher and we will talk you through the options.
Cut the power if water is near electricity.
Switch off breakers for any room with standing water, but only if you can reach the panel without stepping in water. If the panel itself is wet, stay out and call the electric utility or 911. Never touch a wet outlet or a plugged-in cord.
Drain the lines and the water heater supply.
Open the lowest faucet or outdoor hose bib and flush a toilet or two. This relieves pressure and drains the pipes feeding the break. Turn off the heater as well, since a tank with no incoming water can overheat.
Contain and document the water.
Move furniture, lift rugs and use towels or a wet vac to slow spread into drywall and flooring. Take photos and video of the break, the water line on walls and damaged belongings before you clean up. Your insurer will ask for them.
Cracked Pipe, Broken Supply Valve, or Pinhole: Three Kinds of Break
Callers use different words for what went wrong. The repair differs for each.
Cracked or split pipe
A frozen copper or PEX line often splits along its length. A hard clamp, shifted slab or fitting that was over-tightened can also crack the wall of a pipe. We cut out the damaged run and replace it with a new section of the same material, using proper fittings rather than a temporary patch.
Burst or broken supply valve
Angle stops under sinks and toilets, and the shutoff at a washing machine box, corrode and crack with age. These are among the most common bursts in a home. A new valve is a quick fix, and we usually replace the paired supply line while we are there. See also our faucet repair work.
Pinhole or slow pipe leak
Tiny holes from corrosion on older metal lines spray water in a thin jet or leave damp spots. They are not always dramatic, but they signal the pipe is wearing out. If more than one pinhole shows up, ask us about repiping before you chase leaks one at a time.
City Side or Your Side: Who to Call First
If the water is flowing from the street, the meter box or the pipe between the meter and the curb, the break may be on the City's side. For after-hours water breaks on the city side, Crowley sends calls to Police Dispatch at 817-297-2276. Public Works can be reached at 817-297-2201 during business hours, and you should ask where the city side ends, since that line is not published online.
If the break is inside the house, in the yard past the meter or at a fixture, it is almost certainly your side. Call us at that point. A buried water line leak under the lawn or driveway may fall into water service line repair, and a sudden spike in your meter reading with no visible leak points to a leak detection visit.
Repairs follow the 2021 International Plumbing Code that Crowley has adopted. According to the city's local amendment, metallic pipe in corrosive soil needs sheathing at least 8 mil thick, a standard we keep in mind on any buried repair.
Turn off at the house, not just the meter
Even when the City handles a street-side break, the shutoff at your house protects the inside of your home. A broken line that leaks into the yard can still push water toward the foundation. Know both valves before you need them.
Repair a Section or Replace the Run
A burst is a symptom. The right fix depends on why the pipe failed and how much of the line looks the same.
Cut out and splice a section
- Best when the pipe is otherwise sound and the break came from a freeze or impact.
- Uses a short run of new copper, PEX or CPVC with proper fittings.
- Usually finished in one visit, plus time for drywall repair if the wall was opened.
- Local sections of old pipe elsewhere in the house can fail later, so we point them out.
Replace the whole run
- Best for pipe with repeated pinholes, green corrosion or flaking galvanized scale.
- Homes built before the mid-1990s may still have galvanized or polybutylene supply lines.
- Lines in corrosive soil need protection. Local IPC Section 305.1 calls for sheathing at least 8 mil (0.008 inch) on metallic pipe in direct contact with corrosive soil.
- Takes longer, but ends the string of repeat leaks. See whole-house repiping.
Water still running? Call now.
A licensed plumber is on call at all hours, and same-day appointments are available when the schedule allows.
What Drives the Cost of a Burst Pipe Repair
You hear a clear price before we start. A few things set that price.
Homeowners policies usually cover sudden and accidental water damage, such as a pipe that bursts and floods a room. They usually do not cover slow leaks, long-term seepage or the wear that caused the pipe to fail, so ask your carrier what applies. We can provide a written description of the repair.
Lessons from the 2021 Winter Storm
The 2021 winter storm showed North Texas how quickly a hard freeze can split pipes in attics, exterior walls and unheated garages. Many people did not know where the main valve was until water was already pouring through ceilings. A single failed fitting can discharge hundreds of gallons in an hour if nobody shuts it off.
Before the next cold snap, find the main shutoff and test it. Let outdoor spigots drain, insulate exposed lines and leave cabinet doors open on exterior walls. If a line has already frozen and the water is off at the tap, do not thaw it with a torch. Call us, because a thawing pipe may hold a split that only shows once it flows.
After the Repair: Protecting Your Claim and Your Pipes
Once the water is back on, a few steps help with both the claim and the next freeze.
- Keep damaged materials until the adjuster sees them.Photograph wet drywall, carpet and baseboards, and hold on to the failed section of pipe if we leave it with you.
- Run every faucet slowly.Check for sputtering, discolored water and new drips at the fixtures after the main comes back on.
- Ask about a pressure test.A plumber can confirm that the rest of the line holds before you close up a wall.
- Plan a shutoff upgrade.A stiff or seized main valve should be replaced with a full-port ball valve. We can do this during the same visit.
Burst Pipe Questions
Yes. We answer 24/7 and book same-day visits when available, including holidays. Close the main valve, turn off power in wet areas and call. A licensed plumber will talk with you about shutoffs until someone can get to the house.
Shut off the main water valve, then open a low faucet to drain the lines. Keep people away from wet electrical panels and outlets. After that, take photos for your insurer and call a licensed plumber.
For after-hours water breaks on the city side, the City routes calls to Police Dispatch at 817-297-2276. During office hours, Public Works can be reached at 817-297-2201. Ask them where the city side of the line ends, since homeowners are responsible for plumbing past that point.
Most policies cover sudden and accidental water damage, like a split supply line that floods a room. Slow leaks and wear usually are not covered. Read your policy or call your carrier before the cleanup starts.
Usually the valve is replaced, not repaired. We swap the angle stop and the braided supply line together because both age at the same rate. The job is typically short, and it prevents the next surprise flood.
A clamp or wrap can slow it for a day or two, but it is not a repair. Pinholes usually mean the pipe wall has thinned, so more holes are likely nearby. A plumber can cut out the weak section or recommend repiping.
Yes. We cover Crowley and nearby towns, including Forest Hill and Everman. Call and we will confirm whether we can come the same day.