Burst Pipe? Here's Exactly What to Do in the First 10 Minutes

A burst pipe drops 4–8 gallons of water a minute into your home. Drywall ruins in under an hour, flooring in two. The first ten minutes are everything. Do these seven things in order — and call (562) 521-4995. Sigma Plumbing & Rooter answers 24/7.

1. Shut off the main water valve (60 seconds)

Find the main shut-off on the street-side wall of the house, in the garage, or at the meter. Turn it clockwise until it stops. If it's a lever, rotate it 90°. This is the single most important thing you can do — everything else can wait two minutes.

2. Open the lowest faucet in the house

This drains the remaining water in the supply lines so it stops flowing out of the break.

3. Cut power to any affected area

If water is anywhere near outlets, the panel, or appliances, kill the breaker for that area at the main panel. Don't walk through standing water to reach a breaker.

4. Move what you can save

Lift furniture legs onto blocks. Move rugs, electronics, paper, and anything wood off the floor. Five minutes here can save thousands.

5. Start photographing everything

Before you mop a single drop, take wide and close-up photos and a video walkthrough. Your insurance adjuster needs to see the state of the damage, not the cleanup. Save the burst pipe section too — they may ask for it.

6. Call a 24/7 emergency plumber

Call (562) 521-4995. We answer the phone day or night and dispatch immediately in Norwalk, Cerritos, Downey, Long Beach, Bellflower, Lakewood, Whittier, La Mirada, Pico Rivera, and surrounding LA & OC cities.

7. Start moving water out

Wet/dry vac, towels, mops. The faster water leaves, the less mold risk you have in the next 48 hours. If the standing water is more than an inch deep over a large area, call a water damage restoration company too — most insurance policies cover the call.

Why pipes burst in Southern California

• Pinhole corrosion in old copper supply lines (homes built 1960–1985).
• Failed galvanized pipe — common in pre-1970 Norwalk and Whittier homes.
• Water hammer fatigue from a missing arrestor on a quarter-turn valve.
• High street pressure (anything over 80 PSI). A $250 pressure regulator pays for itself.
• Rare hard freeze — uninsulated outdoor hose bibs can split overnight.

What we do when we arrive

Locate the burst, isolate it, repair or replace the section, pressure-test the line, then walk the home with you to look for any second weak spot we should head off now. If multiple pipes are corroded, we'll quote a partial or full repipe — see our pipe repair & replacement page.

One more thing — write down where your main shut-off is

Right now, before you forget. Tape a label to it. Tell every adult in the house. The minute saved next time will be worth a thousand dollars.