Burst pipe: shut off the water first
Find the main shutoff valve, usually in the basement where the water line enters the house, and turn it to the closed position, which is clockwise on most valves. Our dispatch is open 24/7, and while you wait you should open a faucet low in the house to drain the lines and switch off power to any room with standing water.
Move belongings off the floor and take photos for insurance. Do not step into water near outlets or an electrical panel. If the main valve will not turn, tell the dispatcher so we bring a way to shut off at the street.
The first fifteen minutes
Speed matters more than perfection.
- 1
Stop the water
Close the main shutoff and open a low faucet to relieve pressure.
- 2
Cut the power
Turn off breakers to wet areas if you can reach them dry.
- 3
Save belongings
Lift rugs, electronics and boxes out of the water.
- 4
Call and document
Call us, then photograph the damage for your insurer.
Frozen pipes in a Northeast Ohio winter
Pipes in unheated spaces, exterior walls and crawl spaces freeze first. A pipe that is frozen but not yet split can be thawed with a hair dryer on low or warm towels, working from the faucet end toward the frozen section. Never use an open flame.
If you find a split, close the main and call. A frozen pipe can hide a crack that only leaks once it thaws, so even a thawed line should be checked. Our boiler repair team can help if a heating failure caused the freeze.
Repair options by pipe material
Each material repairs differently.
| Pipe | Typical failure | Repair |
|---|---|---|
| Copper | Split from freezing, pinhole from corrosion | Cut out and sweat in a new section |
| PEX | Split from freezing, fitting failure | Cut and use a crimp or expansion fitting |
| Galvanized steel | Corroded section or joint | Replace the section, often with PEX |
| Cast iron drain | Crack from stress or age | Replace with a no-hub coupling or plastic |
Hard water and aging pipes
Barberton's latest water quality report lists hardness around 170 mg/L and a pH near 7.3. Hard water leaves scale, and in older galvanized and copper lines scale and corrosion thin the walls over decades.
If pinhole leaks keep showing up, repairing each one is a poor investment. We will tell you when a section or the whole house is a candidate for repiping.
Insurance and burst pipes
A sudden burst is the event many homeowners policies are written for. They often cover resulting water damage but not the pipe itself, and slow leaks and neglect are commonly excluded.
Photograph the damage, keep receipts for emergency repairs and call your insurer promptly. A restoration company handles drying, and we repair the plumbing.
Preventing the next freeze
Before winter, disconnect garden hoses, shut off and drain exterior spigots that lack a frost-proof design, and insulate pipes in garages, crawl spaces and exterior walls. Cabinet doors under sinks on cold walls should stay open on a hard-freeze night.
Know where your main shutoff is and make sure everyone in the house can find it. A valve you cannot turn is a valve you cannot use, so exercise it once a year and tell us if it sticks.
What affects burst pipe repair pricing
We quote as soon as we see the damage.
For a price tied to your pipe, call (855) 575-2890 and tell us the material and where the break is.
Pipe burst? Call now
Shut off the main, then call the 24/7 line.
What to do before we arrive
Shut off the main water valve first, then open a faucet at the lowest level to drain the lines. Switch off power to any wet area only if you can reach the panel without standing in water, and stay out of rooms where water meets outlets.
Move rugs, electronics and stored boxes out of the way and take photos of the damage for your insurer. Do not use a wet vacuum on standing water near electrical equipment.
Codes behind a pipe repair
Repairs and replacements follow the Ohio Plumbing Code, which builds on the International Plumbing Code (IPC). Approved pipe, fittings and pressure-tested joints are what keep a repair from failing the next cold snap.
After the repair
Once the pipe is fixed, check for hidden dampness behind walls with a leak detection visit. We serve Norton and Copley with the same 24/7 response.
Burst Pipe Repair questions from Barberton homeowners
Yes. Dispatch is open 24/7, including holidays. A burst pipe is our highest-priority call.
Often in the basement or utility area where the water line enters the house, near the meter. Find it now, before an emergency, and label it.
A hair dryer on low or warm towels can work on an accessible pipe. Never use a torch or open flame, and call us if you cannot reach the frozen section.
Many policies cover sudden water damage from a burst pipe but not the pipe itself. Check your policy or call your agent.
Many repairs finish in a few hours. Pipes inside finished walls take longer.
Pipe burst right now? Call (855) 575-2890.