What To Do If A Pipe Bursts

A burst pipe can put hundreds of gallons of water into a house in the time it takes to find a plumber's number. What you do in the first few minutes decides whether you are drying out one room or replacing floors and drywall through half the house. League City learned this in February 2021, when burst pipes across the city helped push water use to nearly 25 million gallons in a single day. Stop the water first, then call (346) 358-6641. Our team is committed to getting the repair completed properly.

Step by step instructions to limit the damage

1. Close the main water shut-off valve. It is usually where the supply line enters the house, often in the garage or on an outside wall, or at the meter box near the street. See how to find your water shut-off.
2. If water is near outlets, a panel or appliances, switch off those circuits at the breaker panel, only if you can reach it without standing in water.
3. If the leak is on the hot side, turn off the water heater: the gas control to "off" or "pilot", or its breaker for an electric heater.
4. Open a faucet at the lowest point in the house, and the tub spout, to drain the pipes and relieve pressure.
5. Move valuables and furniture, mop up, and put towels down.
6. Take photos and video for your insurance before cleanup goes too far.
7. Call (346) 358-6641 and describe where the pipe burst and whether the water is off.

Why pipes burst in League City

Most burst pipes here come from one of two things. The first is a hard freeze: water expands as it freezes, and the pressure splits the pipe, which often only shows once it thaws. During the February 2021 storm, the city warned residents that a line with no water or low pressure was likely frozen and could break when it thawed. The second is ordinary failure: old polybutylene or corroded galvanized pipe, a failed supply hose on a washer or toilet, or joints stressed by shrink-swell clay.

Before the next freeze

Before a forecast freeze, insulate pipes in the attic, garage and exterior walls, and wrap or cover outdoor hose bibs. Disconnect garden hoses. Open cabinet doors under sinks on outside walls so house heat reaches the pipes. Know where your main shut-off is and make sure it turns. If you leave home, keep the heat on. League City asked residents in 2021 to use water only for essential tasks to hold up system pressure, so follow the city's guidance on dripping faucets when a storm arrives.