Step 1: Shut Off the Water Main
The single most important step is stopping the water at its source. Every home has a main water shutoff valve, often located near where the water line enters the house, in a garage, utility closet, or basement. Knowing this location before an emergency happens is worth five minutes of your time right now.
Turning this valve off stops the burst pipe from continuing to release water into your home while you handle everything else.
Step 2: Cut Power to the Affected Area
Once the water is shut off, check whether the affected area has any electrical outlets, fixtures, or appliances at risk. If so, turn off power to that specific area at your breaker panel. Do not enter standing water to reach a breaker panel if the panel itself is in a wet area; treat this as a job for a professional if it is not immediately safe.
This step protects against electrical shock and additional fire risk from compromised wiring.
Step 3: Limit Further Damage Where You Safely Can
If it is quick and safe, lift furniture legs onto blocks or aluminum foil to prevent staining and moisture wicking, and move valuables, electronics, and important documents to a dry area. Do not spend extensive time on this, since getting extraction started matters more than moving every item.
Avoid using a household vacuum on standing water, since most are not designed for it and can pose an electrical hazard.
Step 4: Document the Damage for Your Insurance Claim
Before cleanup begins, take clear photos and, if possible, brief video of the damage from a safe distance. Note the approximate time you discovered the burst pipe. This documentation supports your insurance claim later and helps establish that the damage was sudden and accidental, which matters for coverage.
Network pros will also document the damage professionally, but your own initial photos are a useful backup.
Step 5: Call for Emergency Water Extraction
Once the water is shut off and you have taken basic safety steps, call for professional emergency water extraction right away. The gap between the pipe bursting and extraction starting is the single biggest factor in how much the total damage and cost ends up being.
A live person answers 24/7 and can walk you through anything you are unsure about while a crew is dispatched to your address.