Emergency guide
What to do when a pipe bursts
A burst pipe can release hundreds of gallons per hour. Every minute counts — the goal is stop the flow, protect people, and limit how far water spreads before professional drying begins.
Do this in the next 10 minutes
- 1
Shut off the main water supply
Locate your main shut-off valve — usually where the water line enters the house (garage, utility closet, or near the street in a box). Turn clockwise to close. If you cannot find it, call your water utility's emergency line.
- 2
Kill power to affected areas
Water and electricity are lethal together. Flip breakers for wet rooms at the panel. Do not enter standing water to reach the panel — call an electrician if needed.
- 3
Move valuables and furniture
Lift furniture onto blocks or foil-wrapped legs. Move rugs, electronics, and documents out of the wet zone. Do not spend more than a few minutes on this before calling for help.
- 4
Document everything
Photos and short video of every affected room, the burst location, and water lines on walls. Insurers need timestamped evidence of the sudden event.
- 5
Call for professional drying
Opening windows in Phoenix summer often isn't enough — you need commercial dehumidifiers and moisture meters. Mold can start within 24–48 hours on drywall and carpet pad.
What to expect next
A licensed restoration crew will extract standing water, remove unsalvageable materials (wet carpet pad, lower drywall), and place air movers and dehumidifiers. They'll map moisture in walls and subfloors so nothing is left damp behind cabinets.
In slab-on-grade Phoenix homes, water often travels along the slab edge into adjacent rooms — pros check baseboards and cabinetry toe-kicks even when the burst was in one bathroom.
Burst pipe vs. slow leak
Insurance treats sudden bursts very differently from gradual leaks. A pipe that failed catastrophically overnight is typically covered; a pinhole leak that ran for months may be denied as maintenance. Your photos and the plumber's diagnosis matter.
When it's an insurance event
Most homeowners policies cover sudden and accidental discharge from plumbing. File a claim promptly, get a claim number, and authorize emergency mitigation — carriers expect you to prevent further damage.
FastDry documents the loss with photos, moisture logs, and industry-standard estimates so your adjuster can approve drying and rebuild without delays.
Describe what happened — we'll dispatch a crew
Free for homeowners. One vetted crew, never shared. Insurance documentation included.
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