What to do right now
- Close the main shutoff valve. It is usually where the water line enters the house: in the garage, on an outside wall, or near the water heater. If you cannot find it or it will not turn, the meter has a curb valve that can be closed with a meter key.
- Turn off the water heater: switch off the breaker for an electric heater, or set a gas heater to its pilot or off position.
- If water is near outlets, appliances or the electrical panel, switch off power to that area at the panel, but only if you can reach the panel without standing in water.
- Open a faucet at the lowest point in the house to drain the water left in the pipes.
- Move valuables out of the water and take photographs for your insurer.
Why pipes burst in Delray Beach
Frozen pipes are rare here, so bursts in Delray Beach homes come from other causes:
- Pressure spikes and water hammer from a failed pressure-reducing valve or fast-closing appliance valves.
- Corrosion that has thinned copper or galvanized pipe until it splits.
- Brittle CPVC that cracks at a fitting when it is bumped or flexed.
- Failed supply hoses to washing machines, toilets, faucets and ice makers.
- Nails and screws driven into a pipe during remodeling, which can leak for years before the pipe finally splits.
- Root and storm damage when a tree uprooted by high wind pulls apart an underground water line.
How we repair a burst pipe
Stop the water
We confirm the water is off, then open access at the failure.
Cut out the damage
The split section is removed along with any weakened pipe on either side.
Replace the section
New pipe and fittings are installed to match your system.
Check pressure
We measure the system pressure and test the pressure-reducing valve, the most common cause of repeat bursts.
Pressure test and restore
The repair is tested under pressure, then water is restored and the house is checked for other leaks.
After the water is off
Standing water and wet materials should be dried quickly, since mold can start growing within 24 to 48 hours. A water mitigation company removes water and sets drying equipment. We record the failed pipe, its location and the cause in photographs and a written note for your insurance claim. If the burst pipe is under the floor, the repair follows our slab leak repair process.
Preventing the next burst
- Have your water pressure checked, and replace a pressure-reducing valve that no longer holds pressure steady.
- Replace rubber washing machine hoses with braided stainless hoses, and replace any hose older than about five years.
- Learn where your main shutoff valve is and make sure it turns.
- Consider an automatic leak-detection shutoff valve on the main line.
- If your pipe is brittle CPVC, polybutylene or badly corroded, plan a repipe before the next failure.
Burst Pipe Repair questions
Where is my main water shutoff valve?
In most Delray Beach homes it is on the line where water enters the house, often in the garage, on an exterior wall near the front hose bib, or beside the water heater. The curb valve inside the meter box also stops the water.
Can a pipe burst under the slab?
Yes. A burst under the floor shows up as water surfacing through grout lines or at the base of walls, or as a sudden, large jump on the meter. It is repaired as a slab leak.
Will insurance cover a burst pipe?
Many homeowners policies cover sudden and accidental water damage from a burst pipe, though the pipe itself is often excluded. Check your policy, and report the damage promptly.
Why did my pipe burst when nothing was running?
Pipes are under pressure all the time, whether or not water is running. A pressure spike overnight, or a pipe that corrosion has finally thinned through, can fail at any hour.