Burst Pipe? What to Do in the First 10 Minutes

Minutes 0-2: stop the water

Go straight to the main shutoff. In many Inland Empire houses, which are commonly built on a concrete slab, the main valve sits where the supply line comes up out of the ground near the front of the house, often close to a hose bib or inside the garage wall. Turn a gate valve clockwise until it stops, or turn a lever-style ball valve a quarter turn so the handle sits across the pipe.

If you cannot find or move the house valve, know where your provider's responsibility ends before you reach for anything at the street. The rules differ by utility:

If the break is clearly on the utility side, such as water bubbling up at the meter box, call the provider rather than trying to work on it yourself. Fontana Water Company customers in particular should not operate the meter valve.

Minutes 2-4: keep clear of electricity

Water and household current are the most serious risk in the first few minutes. The CDC warns never to use electrical tools while standing in water, and to call 911 if you think someone has had an electric shock. In practice:

• If water is spreading toward outlets, power strips or a floor-level appliance, do not walk through it to unplug anything.
• Only switch off breakers if you can reach the panel while standing on a dry floor. If the panel is wet or in the flooded area, leave it and call the electric utility or an electrician.
• Keep children and pets out of the room.

Minutes 4-6: deal with the water heater

With the main shut, the water heater is no longer refilling. Turn its gas control to the pilot or off position, or switch off the breaker for an electric unit, so it does not heat an emptying tank. If the burst is on the heater itself, such as a failed supply connector or a leaking tank, closing the cold-water valve on top of the heater may let you keep the rest of the house running while you wait.

If you smell gas at any point, stop. Leave the house first, then call 911 and SoCalGas at 1-800-427-2200 from a safe place. Some homes are all-electric or on propane; your gas bill shows which utility serves you. The full steps are in the guide on what to do if you smell gas.

Minutes 6-8: drain the lines and move what you can

1. Open the lowest cold faucet in the house, often a tub spout or a front hose bib, to let water left in the pipes drain there instead of out of the break.
2. Flush toilets once to empty the tanks if water is still coming from a toilet supply line.
3. Pull rugs, electronics, paperwork and furniture out of the wet area. Put foil or plastic under furniture legs you cannot move.
4. Use towels and a wet vacuum on standing water if the area is clear of electrical hazards.

Minutes 8-10: document and call

Take photos and video of the break, the wet areas and anything damaged before cleanup goes further. Note the time you found the leak and when you shut the water off. That record helps when you talk to your insurance company and when a plumber needs to see how the pipe failed.

Then call for help. A plumber who handles burst pipe repair around Riverside can open the wall or ceiling, find the failed section and restore water to the rest of the house. If you are unsure the situation needs someone tonight, the guide on whether to call an emergency plumber or wait lays out the trade-offs.

Why do pipes burst in homes here?

Several causes show up again and again in older and newer homes alike:

• High water pressure. RPU's rules require customers to install and maintain a pressure regulator and relief valve where static pressure exceeds 80 psi. A regulator that has failed lets full street pressure hit every joint and hose in the house. The water pressure guide covers both too-low and too-high readings.
• Aging pipe. Riverside's median home was built around 1976 and Montclair's around 1969. RPU notes that homes built before about 1986 may still have a customer-owned galvanized or lead service line, and older galvanized piping inside a house corrodes from the inside out.
• Supply hoses and connectors. Washing machine hoses, toilet and faucet supply lines and water heater flex connectors are common failure points.
• Lines under the slab. A break under the floor may show up as a warm or wet spot rather than a spray. See the guide on signs of a slab leak if you cannot find a visible source.

What happens after the first 10 minutes?

Drying

The EPA says water-damaged areas and items should be dried within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold growth. Fans, a dehumidifier and opening the house up on a dry day all help. Wet drywall, insulation and carpet pad often need to be cut out or replaced rather than dried in place.

Repair

HomeAdvisor's 2025 cost guide puts a single burst pipe repair at $200 to $3,000, and general pipe leak repair at $250 to $850. Access is the big variable: a broken hose behind a washer is quick, while a line inside a finished ceiling or under a slab is not. If the failure is one of many on corroded pipe, the plumber may raise whole-house repiping as the longer-term fix. A break on the buried line between the meter and the house is a water line repair, which on most local systems is the owner's responsibility.

Insurance

Call your insurer early, keep damaged items until an adjuster has seen them or approved disposal, and save receipts for fans, rentals and repairs. Ask the plumber for a written note describing what failed and why.

Help across the region

Referrals are available throughout the area, including an emergency plumber in Riverside, after-hours help in San Bernardino, plumbers serving Fontana and Moreno Valley, and burst pipe help in Lake Elsinore.

Prepare now, before anything breaks

• Find your main shutoff, make sure it turns, and show everyone in the house where it is.
• Keep a pair of channel-lock pliers or a valve key near the valve if it is stiff.
• Know your water provider and save its emergency number in your phone.
• Replace rubber washing machine hoses with braided stainless ones.
• Have the pressure checked if faucets bang or relief valves drip.