Stop the water in the next five minutes
You do not need a plumber to start limiting the damage. Do these in order while you wait for help.
- 1
Shut off the main
Find the main water shutoff, usually where the line enters the house or at the meter box, and turn it fully off.
- 2
Open a low faucet
Run a tap at the lowest level of the house to drain the pipes and ease the pressure.
- 3
Cut power if water nears outlets
If water is near electrical outlets or appliances, switch off the breaker for that area. Do not stand in water to do it.
- 4
Move belongings
Lift rugs, electronics and paper out of the wet area. Take photos for your records.
Then call, even if the water is off
Shutting off the water stops the flood, but the pipe is still broken and your water is off. Call and describe where the water was coming from and what the pipe looks like. A plumber can plan the right fittings and tell you what to expect.
If you cannot find the shutoff, tell us. We can usually talk you through where to look or what to do if the valve will not close.
What burst pipes tend to look like
A split along the pipe
Frozen water or age can split a copper or plastic line along its length. The leak is usually obvious.
A failed joint
Fittings, couplings and old solder joints give way under pressure and spray from the connection.
Pinholes in old copper
Small leaks appear at several points. This often signals a line near the end of its life.
Pressure damage
High water pressure puts stress on every joint. A sudden burst can follow years of pressure that was too high.
Water is off, pipe is broken?
Call and tell us what you see. We will plan the repair before we arrive.
Repair the section or replace more?
The decision depends on what the rest of the pipe looks like.
Repair the failed part
- The rest of the pipe is in good shape
- The failure was a single event, such as a freeze
- The pipe is accessible and not corroded
- You want the least disruption
Replace a larger run
- Several leaks or pinholes in the same line
- Corroded or brittle pipe
- Material known to fail, such as old galvanized
- A repair would be next to more weak points
What affects the price of a burst pipe repair
We give you a clear price before work starts, including after hours.
Pipes, cold snaps and water pressure around Bothell
Western Washington winters are usually mild, but cold snaps do happen, and pipes in unheated crawl spaces, garages and exterior walls are the ones at risk. Insulate exposed lines before the cold arrives.
Bothell water comes from Seattle Public Utilities and the City of Bothell reports it as soft. Soft water is not a reason for pipe failure on its own. Age, pressure and freezing are. If your home has a pressure regulator near the main, ask us to check it when we repair the burst.
Replacement pipe and fittings are chosen to meet the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) as adopted in Washington under WAC 51-56.
Burst pipe questions
Yes. Our emergency line is open 24 hours a day, every day. Call (425) 845-0257, shut off the main if you can and we will plan the repair with you.
Many policies cover sudden water damage, but terms vary. Take photos, keep damaged items and call your insurer. We can provide an itemized invoice for the plumbing work.
It is usually where the water line enters the house, in a basement, garage or utility closet, or at the water meter box by the street. Know where it is before an emergency.
A single accessible split can be repaired within a visit. Longer runs or pipes inside walls take more time. We will tell you what to expect once we see it.
Not always. If the rest of the system is sound, a repair is enough. If the pipe is old and brittle, see repiping to compare the options.
Watch your water meter with everything off. If it moves, there is a leak somewhere. See leak detection for how we trace it.