Burst Pipe Emergency Checklist
A burst pipe can release hundreds of gallons into a home in under an hour. Most of the lasting damage — warped floors, saturated ceiling drywall, and mold — happens in the first 24–48 hours, so what you do in the first ten minutes matters enormously.
Do this first
- 1Shut off the main water valve to the house. In most Maryland homes it's near the water meter, often in the basement or a utility closet.
- 2If the burst is on a fixture or supply line, close the small valve on the pipe feeding it before turning the main off.
- 3Open the lowest faucet in the house and let the remaining water drain out — it relieves pressure and drains the lines faster.
- 4Kill power to any room where water is near outlets, fixtures or the panel. If the panel itself is wet, do not touch it — call an electrician.
- 5Move furniture, bedding, electronics and documents off wet flooring.
- 6Photograph and video everything before you start cleaning, for your insurance claim.
- 7Call your insurer's claims line to open a claim, then call a restoration crew for extraction and drying.
Avoid
- ✕Don't run a household fan or space heater into a wet wall or ceiling — it can drive moisture deeper without drying it.
- ✕Don't use a wet/dry vacuum on water that is near electrical outlets or a wet panel.
- ✕Don't assume the floor is dry because the surface feels dry — subfloor and framing stay wet for days.
- ✕Don't wait to see if it 'dries out on its own.' Visible mold can appear in 24–48 hours on wet drywall.
After a burst pipe, water usually ends up in wall cavities and ceilings where you can't see it. Moisture readings and thermal imaging in the first visit tell you whether the drying is actually complete — before the walls go back up.