A burst pipe is one of the fastest ways a home floods. A crack as small as an eighth of an inch can release up to 250 gallons of water a day, and Michigan reports roughly 250,000 homes damaged by frozen pipes each winter. The good news: the first 30 minutes matter more than anything, and a calm, correct response can save you thousands.
First: get to safety
Before you touch anything, look for water near electrical equipment — outlets, the electrical panel, the furnace, or appliances. If water is pooling near any of these, do not enter it. Leave the area and, if needed, call your utility or 911. No repair is worth a shock hazard.
Shut off the main water supply
In most Bloomfield Hills homes, the main shut-off valve is in the basement near where the water line enters the house, often close to the meter. Turn it fully clockwise (righty-tighty) to stop the flow. If you are not sure where it is, our dispatcher can help you find it over the phone.
- 1Locate the main shut-off valve (basement, near the meter).
- 2Turn it clockwise until it stops to shut off the water.
- 3Open a low cold-water faucet to relieve remaining pressure in the lines.
- 4If the burst is near a water heater, shut that off too.
Contain and document the damage
Once the water is off, move valuables out of the way and mop or towel up standing water if it is safe to do so. Then, from a dry position, photograph and video everything — the source, the affected rooms, damaged materials, and any serial numbers on appliances. This documentation is the backbone of a smooth insurance claim.
Keep every receipt and invoice. The EPA notes that clean water trapped in building materials can begin growing mold within 24–48 hours, so getting the area dried quickly matters as much as the plumbing repair itself.
Call a licensed plumber
With the water off and the scene documented, call for professional help. Our burst pipe repair team finds every failure point — a single freeze can crack a pipe in more than one place — repairs it permanently, and pressure-tests the system before restoring water. For after-hours floods, our 24/7 emergency plumbers answer live and dispatch fast.
We respond throughout the area, including nearby Birmingham, where older homes near Quarton Lake are especially prone to burst supply lines. Describe the pipe location and water volume when you call so we can arrive prepared.
The bottom line
Get safe, shut off the water, relieve pressure, document everything, and call a pro. Do those five things in order and you will limit the damage from even a serious burst. Program our number into your phone now so you are not searching for it while water is spreading.
From our licensed plumbers
What our plumbers look for that homeowners miss
The mistake we see most on burst-pipe calls is treating the visible break as the whole problem. A pipe that froze and split almost never fails in just one spot — the same cold that cracked the joint you can see usually stressed several feet of line you cannot. Before we quote a repair, we isolate the section, bring the system back up to pressure, and walk the full run looking for weeping joints and hairline splits that stay hidden until the ice is completely gone.
The second thing we check is why it burst in the first place. A line on an exterior wall that froze once will freeze again unless the insulation or routing changes, so a real repair includes a prevention step, not just a new section of pipe. If your home has aging galvanized lines or a history of pinhole leaks, we will tell you honestly whether a targeted fix or a whole-home repipe is the smarter money — and we put both numbers in writing so you decide. Homeowners across Bloomfield Township keep our number handy for exactly this reason.
Frequently asked questions
A crack as small as an eighth of an inch can release up to 250 gallons a day. A fully burst supply line can flood a basement in minutes, which is why shutting off the main immediately is so important.
If water is near outlets, the panel, or appliances, do not enter the water to reach the breaker. Stay clear and call a professional or your utility. Only shut off power at the panel if you can reach it safely and dryly.
Have a plumbing problem right now?
Our licensed Bloomfield Hills plumbers answer 24/7 and quote the price before any work begins.
Call (831) 290-4327
