A burst pipe is a failure in a pressurized supply line, and it puts water into your home on every second the valve stays open. Call the 24/7 line now. Until the crew gets there: shut the main, open the lowest faucet to bleed off pressure, keep out of rooms where water reaches outlets, and lift belongings off the wet floor.
Burst pipe water damage is different from a slow drip because the volume is so large. A line under normal pressure can fill a kitchen or soak a ceiling before anyone finds the cause. The goal is to stop the flow first, then remove water, then dry the structure.
Water is running from a burst pipe right now
Do these in order. Each takes less than a minute once you know where to look.
Find the main shutoff
It is usually where the water line enters the house, often in the basement or utility room near the meter. Turn the handle clockwise until it stops.
If the valve is stuck, try the street side
Hard water leaves mineral scale that can seize an old valve. If it will not turn, call dispatch and the Port Washington Water District for help closing the curb stop.
Relieve the pressure
Open the lowest cold tap in the house. This drains the lines and stops water pushing out of the break.
Shut off the water heater
Switch the heater off at the breaker or gas control so it does not run dry. Do this only if the area is dry.
Photograph the damage
Take photos and video of the break and the wet areas before cleanup. Your insurer will ask for them.
Why a supply line floods faster than a drain leak
A drain line carries water away by gravity and only leaks when something is flowing through it. A supply line is full and pushing all the time, so a split releases a steady stream with no pause. A drain leak is measured in drips and puddles. A burst supply line is measured in gallons per minute.
That is why a failure upstairs can reach the kitchen below within a short time, and why a break in a wall can soak insulation, drywall and the floor before a stain appears. The faster the water is stopped, the less structure has to be dried.
Water still spreading? The 24/7 emergency line is open right now.
☎ Call (516) 845-9582What a burst looks like behind a wall
Not every burst is visible. These are the signs that suggest a hidden break.
Sound of running water
A hiss or rush in the wall with every fixture turned off points to a pressurized leak.
Paint bubbling or staining
Bubbles, brown rings or soft spots on drywall mean moisture is behind the surface.
Warm or cold patches
A thermal imaging camera shows a temperature difference where water is flowing or pooling inside the wall.
A water meter that moves
With every fixture off, a spinning meter on the Port Washington Water District supply is a strong sign of a hidden leak.
Sagging ceiling below
A bulge or drip from the ceiling suggests water has collected between floors.
Repair options and honest trade-offs
Stopping the leak is the plumber's job, and restoring the damage is ours. Fixing the pipe itself comes in a few forms.
| Option | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Cut out and replace the failed section | A single split with sound pipe on both sides | Quick and cheap, but the next weak spot may fail later |
| Couple or fitting repair | A leaking joint or corroded connection | Works if the pipe near it is healthy |
| Repipe a run or the whole house | Repeated failures or old, scaled pipe | Larger job with walls opened up, but ends the pattern |
| Replace the shutoff valve | A valve that is stuck or weeping | Small fix that makes the next emergency easier to control |
Removing water and drying the damage
After the pipe is isolated, extraction units pull standing water off the floor, as described on the water extraction page. Wet drywall, insulation and baseboards are then checked with moisture meters. Sections that stayed wet too long are cut out, and the rest is dried with air movers and LGR dehumidifiers, which is covered on the structural drying page.
When the break is inside a wall, the wall and drywall repair page explains how openings are made and patched. When it hits the kitchen, the kitchen page explains cabinets and flooring.
Power and wet walls
Water inside a wall can reach wiring and outlets. Do not touch switches or outlets on a wet wall. Leave the breaker alone unless the panel is dry and you can reach it without stepping through water. A burning smell, sparks or gas means you get out and call emergency services or the utility, and only then the restoration line.
What affects the cost of burst pipe cleanup
Five things move the total more than anything else.
- Water category: clean supply water is the least costly to handle, and the cost rises if it crossed dirty materials.
- Affected area: more rooms and more floors mean more extraction and more equipment.
- Materials: hardwood, carpet pad and insulation are treated differently from tile and concrete.
- Equipment and drying days: a burst inside a wall cavity can take longer than one on an open floor, and machines run until readings come down.
- Rebuild scope: drywall, paint, trim and flooring replaced after the drying is done. Phone the 24/7 line first, then expect the scope and price in plain words before work begins.
Insurance and burst pipes
A sudden pipe burst is the kind of loss many homeowners policies treat as sudden and accidental, but coverage varies. Ongoing leaks and neglect are often excluded. Save every receipt, let the insurer inspect before permanent repairs, and read what your policy says.
Burst pipes around Port Washington
The district's April 2025 sample came in at 173 mg/L hardness, and scale from water like that can build on valves and supply lines over time. Operate the main shutoff and the fixture valves a couple of times a year, so you know they work when a pipe lets go. Locate your main now, not during a flood.
If you are just past the border, the same service covers neighbors in Roslyn Heights. Check which building department covers your street before any plumbing permit work begins.
Frequently asked questions
Do you handle burst pipe emergencies at night or on weekends in Port Washington?
Yes. Dispatch answers around the clock, so a burst at 3 a.m. on a Sunday is handled like a weekday call, with same-day response when available. Close your main shutoff first.
Where is my main water shutoff?
Usually where the water line enters the house, often in a basement or utility room near the meter. Find it and test it before you ever need it.
Do you fix the burst pipe itself?
The pipe repair belongs to a licensed plumber. Restoration handles the water removal, drying and damage repair that follow.
How do I know if a pipe burst inside a wall?
Listen for running water with everything off, look for bubbling paint or a spinning meter, and call so a thermal imaging camera can confirm.
Will my homeowners insurance cover a burst pipe?
A pipe that splits all at once is often covered, and a slow weep behind a wall often is not. Ask your insurer and keep photos and receipts.
How long does drying take after a burst pipe?
Many jobs need several days of drying with air movers and dehumidifiers. The readings, not a calendar date, decide when it is done.
Ready to talk it through? Call the 24/7 line.
☎ Call (516) 845-9582