Water leak and burst pipe repair

First steps if a pipe bursts

1. Close the main shutoff. If you do not know where it is, look near the front hose bib or the meter box.
2. Turn off power to any area where water is near outlets or fixtures.
3. Open a faucet at the lowest point of the house to drain pressure.
4. Move belongings, put down towels and take photos for insurance.
5. Then text or call.

How much water leaks waste

EPA WaterSense says that "the average household's leaks can account for more than 9,300 gallons of water wasted every year," and that "nine percent of homes have leaks that waste 50 gallons or more per day." Hidden leaks raise the water bill and do slow damage to framing and finishes long before they show.

Signs of a hidden leak

• A water meter that moves when all fixtures are off.
• A bill that jumps without a change in use.
• Stains, bubbling paint or soft drywall.
• A musty smell in a cabinet or closet.
• Warped flooring or baseboards near a bathroom or kitchen.
• The sound of running water when nothing is on.

What we fix

We fix leaks we can reach: fixture connections, supply lines, stops, accessible copper and PEX joints, and pipes in walls and ceilings where the leak is in one place and a small opening reaches it. We cut a clean access opening, repair the pipe with the right fitting, test it under pressure, let the area dry, and then patch and texture the drywall. Where a closet backs onto the plumbing, we can install an access panel for the future.

Pinhole leaks in copper

Some older homes develop pinhole leaks in copper lines, often from water chemistry or age. One pinhole can be repaired, but several in a short time suggest the pipe is thinning. In that case, patching one pinhole at a time stops making sense.

What is outside our scope

Slab leaks, leaks with no clear source, sewer leaks and repiping are outside our scope. So are drying out soaked framing and mold beyond a small area. Once those are done, we can return to patch, hang doors and reset trim.

Pipes under sinks and behind toilets

Most leaks we find are at the fixture: a supply line nut that loosened, a cracked plastic line, a stop that weeps, a trap slip joint, a disposal flange or a toilet wax ring. These show up as a wet cabinet floor, a stain on the ceiling under a bathroom, or a soft subfloor near the toilet. Fixing the part and drying the area early prevents rot.

Ceilings and walls after the repair

Once the leak is fixed, we let the area dry, cut out damaged drywall, and patch, texture and prime. On ceilings, stain-blocking primer keeps water marks from bleeding through paint.

Water heater leaks

Leaks at the heater can come from connectors, the relief valve, the drain valve or the tank. Connector and valve leaks are repairable. A tank leak means replacement.

Know your main

Practice closing the main shutoff before you need it. If it does not close, replace it on a calm day.

Why pipes fail

• Age: galvanized pipe rusts from the inside.
• Pressure: high house pressure strains joints and hoses.
• Movement: earthquakes and settling stress rigid joints.
• Chemistry: water that is aggressive to copper can cause pinholes.
• Damage: nails and screws through pipes during past work.

When a pipe fails, the cause tells us whether one fix is enough or whether it points to a bigger problem in the line.

More questions

Should I shut off the water heater too? If the leak is on the hot side or you drain the house, turn the heater to pilot or off to protect it.

Can a burst pipe be temporarily patched? A repair clamp can stop a leak until a permanent fix is made.

What about a leak under the house? Accessible crawlspace pipes can be fixed. If water is running and you cannot find the source, turn off the main.

Leaks from above

Stains on a first-floor ceiling under a bathroom usually come from the toilet wax ring, the tub overflow gasket, the shower pan or grout, or a supply line. Testing each fixture one at a time, with the ceiling opened slightly, narrows it down.

Fixture connection leaks we fix directly; a leak that comes through the tile itself points to the shower pan. Keep the area under the stain clear and dry while we track it down.

Air conditioner condensate lines and attic water heaters can also leak onto ceilings. Those lines are worth checking when a stain appears near the attic hatch or the furnace closet.

Photo checklist