Emergency service
Burst pipe water damage cleanup
When a pipe bursts, shut off the main water valve first, then get water extraction and drying started. A plumber repairs the pipe, and a restoration crew removes the water and dries the walls, floors and ceilings it reached.
- Fast callback on emergency requests
- Independent local companies that serve your ZIP
- Moisture readings documented for your insurer
- Free to call; the company quotes before work starts
A split supply line can release several gallons a minute until the main valve is closed. The water runs along framing and into ceilings below, so the damage is usually larger than what you see. Frozen pipes are the most common cause in colder states, and they often burst when they thaw, not while they're frozen.
After the plumbing is repaired, the crew traces the water with meters, opens ceilings or walls only where needed, and dries the cavities. See our guide on what to do when a pipe bursts.
A plumber handles the burst pipe repair itself. Burst pipe cleanup is the restoration side: getting the water out of floors, walls and ceilings and drying the house so the damage doesn't spread.
Burst Pipe Cleanup at a glance
- What it is
- When a pipe bursts, shut off the main water valve first, then get water extraction and drying started.
- Urgency
- Same day. Damage grows by the hour.
- Typical steps
- Shut off and isolate → Extract and open up → Dry the cavities → Rebuild
- Who does it
- An independent, local restoration company
Signs
When you need burst pipe cleanup
- Water spraying or running from a wall, ceiling or cabinet
- A sudden drop in water pressure with the sound of running water
- Bulging or stained ceiling below a bathroom or attic line
- Frost on exposed pipes, or no water from a faucet during a freeze
- Water meter spinning with every fixture off
Process
What the crew does
- 1
Shut off and isolate
The main valve is closed and electricity is cut to wet areas.
- 2
Extract and open up
Standing water is removed; wet ceiling drywall and insulation that can't be dried are taken down.
- 3
Dry the cavities
Walls and ceilings are dried with air movers, dehumidifiers and cavity drying.
- 4
Rebuild
Once readings are dry, drywall, insulation, paint and flooring are replaced.
Cost
What affects the price
Every job is scoped on site. These are the factors that move the number.
- How long the pipe ran before it was shut off
- Floors affected: a second-floor break can reach two levels
- Ceiling drywall and insulation removal
- Flooring type and whether it can be dried
- Plumbing repair, billed separately by the plumber
Before the crew arrives
What you can do, and when to stop
Safe to do
- Close the main water shutoff and open the lowest faucet to drain lines
- Turn off the water heater if the main is off for long
- Poke a small hole in a bulging ceiling over a bucket to release water, standing clear
Stop and call if
- Water is coming through light fixtures or near the electrical panel
- A ceiling is sagging heavily
- The break is inside a wall or slab
FAQ
Burst Pipe Cleanup questions
Does homeowners insurance cover a burst pipe?
Sudden and accidental pipe bursts are commonly covered, while damage from a long, slow leak or lack of maintenance often isn't. Check your policy and call your insurer early.
Should I call a plumber or a restoration company first?
Stop the water first. If the pipe is still leaking after the main is closed, call a plumber. Start drying the same day, because water damage grows by the hour.
Why did my pipe burst when it warmed up?
Ice builds pressure in the pipe while frozen. The split often lets go as the ice thaws and water flows again, which is why leaks show up on the first warm day.
How can you tell if a pipe burst?
Common signs are a sudden drop in water pressure, the sound of running water when nothing is on, a water meter that keeps spinning, wet spots or bulging on ceilings and walls, and a spike in your water bill. In winter, a frozen pipe that suddenly starts flowing again often has a split.
Who do I call for a pipe burst in my house?
Shut off the main water first. Call a plumber to repair the pipe and a water damage restoration company to extract the water and dry the house. Then call your insurer to start a claim.
Burst Pipe Cleanup by city
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in New York, NY
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in San Antonio, TX
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Austin, TX
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Columbus, OH
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in San Francisco, CA
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Fort Worth, TX
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Memphis, TN
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Colorado Springs, CO
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Tulsa, OK
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Oakland, CA
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Long Beach, CA
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Wichita, KS
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Arlington, TX
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Aurora, CO
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in St. Petersburg, FL
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Henderson, NV
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Greensboro, NC
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Toledo, OH
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Durham, NC
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in St. Paul, MN
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Madison, WI
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Lincoln, NE
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Newark, NJ
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Arlington, VA
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Reno, NV
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Plano, TX
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Winston Salem, NC
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Richmond, VA
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Baton Rouge, LA
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Huntsville, AL
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Spokane, WA
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Irving, TX
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Little Rock, AR
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Tacoma, WA
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Paradise, NV
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Knoxville, TN
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Spring Valley, NV
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Akron, OH
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in North Las Vegas, NV
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Columbus, GA
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Overland Park, KS
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Chattanooga, TN
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Sioux Falls, SD
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Worcester, MA
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Grand Rapids, MI
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Garland, TX
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Springfield, MO
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Yonkers, NY
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Vancouver, WA
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Santa Ana, CA
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Alexandria, VA
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Eugene, OR
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Glendale, CA
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Frisco, TX
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Jackson, MS
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in McKinney, TX
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Fort Collins, CO
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Lakewood, CO
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Cary, NC
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Sunrise Manor, NV
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Grand Prairie, TX
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Salem, OR
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Clarksville, TN
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Rockford, IL
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Killeen, TX
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Metairie, LA
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Bellevue, WA
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Murfreesboro, TN
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Aurora, IL
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Carrollton, TX
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Arvada, CO
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Federal Way, WA
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Marietta, GA
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Centreville, VA
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Mooresville, NC
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Lynnwood, WA
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Kearny, NJ
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Kennesaw, GA
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Fuquay Varina, NC
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Muncie, IN
Burst Pipe Cleanup in popular cities
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Phoenix, AZ
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Houston, TX
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Dallas, TX
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Atlanta, GA
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Miami, FL
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Seattle, WA
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Denver, CO
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Charlotte, NC
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Chicago, IL
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Los Angeles, CA
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Baltimore, MD
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Philadelphia, PA
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Washington, DC
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Boston, MA
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Detroit, MI
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Tampa, FL
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Minneapolis, MN
- Burst Pipe Cleanup in Las Vegas, NV
Available in 48 states
Related
Related services
Water Extraction
Water extraction removes standing and soaked-in water with truck-mounted or portable pumps and extraction wands, so drying can start.
About water extraction
Ceiling Leak Water Damage
A wet ceiling needs the leak stopped at its source (roof, plumbing, HVAC drain or a bathroom above), the ceiling cavity dried, and damaged drywall and insulation replaced.
About ceiling leak water damage
Structural Drying
Structural drying removes water that has soaked into drywall, framing, subfloor and cabinets using air movers, commercial dehumidifiers and daily moisture readings.
About structural dryingWater where it shouldn't be?
Stop the source if you can, then call. We'll connect you with a local restoration company that serves your ZIP.
Fast callback on emergency requests