When the Pipes Burst: Immediate Emergency Steps

It’s the nightmare scenario. You wake up on a freezing January morning, step onto your carpet, and feel a squish. Or maybe you walk into the basement and hear the terrifying sound of rushing water behind a wall.

Your pipe has burst.

In the dead of a Utah winter, water expands as it freezes, exerting over 2,000 pounds of pressure per square inch on your plumbing. No copper or plastic pipe can withstand that. When the pipe splits, it becomes an open faucet inside your home, dumping gallons of water per minute.

Panic is natural, but speed is everything. Here is your rapid-response guide to minimizing the damage.

Step 1: STOP THE WATER (The "30-Second Rule")
Do not look for towels. Do not move furniture. Your only goal right now is to stop the flow.

Find the Main Shut-Off: You need to shut off the water to the entire house.

Where is it? In most Utah homes, it is located in the basement, usually on the front foundation wall (street side) or in a utility room near the water heater. Look for a wheel handle (turn clockwise) or a lever handle (turn until it is perpendicular to the pipe).

Can't Find It? If you cannot find the inside valve, checking the street meter is an option, but in January, it is likely buried under snow or locked. Focus on the inside valve. If you can’t close it, call Apex immediately.

Step 2: Open the Faucets (Relieve the Pressure)
Once the main water is off, run to the lowest faucet in your home (usually a basement laundry tub or bathroom sink) and open the cold water tap. Then, go to the highest faucet and open it.

Why? This drains the remaining water out of the system and relieves the pressure, preventing more water from spraying out of the burst pipe.

Step 3: Electrical Safety Check
Before you step into any standing water to save your belongings, look up and look around.

The Danger: If the water level has reached wall outlets, extension cords, or appliances, the water could be electrically charged.

The Action: If you suspect the water is energized, do not enter the room. If you can safely reach your electrical panel (breaker box) in a dry area, turn off the main breaker or the breakers for the flooded rooms.

Step 4: Thawing a "Silent" Frozen Pipe
Sometimes, the pipe hasn't burst yet—it's just frozen solid (no water comes out when you turn on the tap). This is your chance to save it, but you must do it safely.

The "Never" List: NEVER use an open flame, propane torch, or charcoal stove to thaw a pipe. This is a leading cause of winter house fires.

The Safe Method: Keep the faucet open. Use a hair dryer, a portable space heater (kept away from flammable materials), or towels soaked in hot water wrapped around the pipe. Apply heat gently, starting from the faucet side and working your way back toward the frozen section.

The Warning: If you thaw the pipe and water starts rushing out, the pipe was split, and the ice was acting as a plug. Go back to Step 1 immediately!

Step 5: Mitigation (The Waiting Game)
You’ve stopped the water. Help is on the way. Now you can start saving your stuff.

Move Valuables: Get wood furniture, electronics, and boxes off the wet carpet. Aluminum foil placed under furniture legs can prevent staining.

Document: Take photos of the water level and damage before you start cleaning up.

Don't Vacuum: Do not use a household vacuum to suck up water; you risk electrical shock.

You Are Not Alone
A burst pipe is a major emergency, but it is one we handle every single day.

Apex Restoration is available 24/7 for winter water emergencies. We have the extraction trucks to remove the water and the heating equipment to dry your structure before mold sets in.

Save this number now: (801) 513-1137. If the pipes burst, we answer.