If a pipe has burst, the first move is the main water shut-off valve. Close it, then call our line, which is open 24/7. Open a faucet at the lowest point of the house to drain what is left in the pipes, and keep everyone away from wet floors near outlets, appliances, and light fixtures.
If water is near the electrical panel or you hear sparking, leave the area and cut power at the panel only if you can reach it without standing in water. Otherwise call and let us help you decide the safest next step. Take photos of the damage before you move things, because your insurer will ask.
When a burst pipe is an emergency
A pipe that is dripping is a repair. A pipe that is spraying, flowing steadily, or pouring through a ceiling is an emergency, because water in the walls and floor spreads quickly and the damage compounds the longer it runs.
Treat it as urgent right now if you see any of these:
- Water spraying or streaming from a visible pipe
- A ceiling that is bulging, dripping, or stained and growing
- Water coming through a wall or a light fixture
- A flooded cabinet, garage, or crawlspace with no clear source
- A sudden loss of water pressure alongside the sound of running water
We take overnight and weekend burst pipe calls, because pipes do not wait for a convenient hour. We confirm the main is off, locate the failure, and plan the repair so you are not left with a closed valve and no water for longer than you need.
What makes a pipe fail
Age and corrosion
Older metal supply lines thin out from the inside, develop pinholes, and eventually split. This is the most common cause of a burst in a house with original piping.
High water pressure
A line that runs at high pressure for years works against every joint. A failed pressure regulator or an unusually strong supply can finish off a weak spot.
Ground and structural movement
Settling, shifting soil, and earthquakes can pull a pipe at a fitting or crack a buried section. Even small movement strains a rigid line.
Freezing and thaw
Water expands when it freezes and splits the pipe wall. We see it less often than corrosion, but cold snaps still cause splits in exposed lines.
Damage from work
A nail, a trench, or a drilled stud can nick a pipe. The leak may show up days after the work.
How we handle a burst pipe
Stop the water
We confirm the main is closed, drain the line, and make sure the house is safe to work in.
Find the failure
We locate the burst and check the pipe on either side of it. A single failure often has weak neighbors.
Repair or replace
For a clean failure in sound pipe, we cut out the damaged section and splice in new pipe. If the line is corroded or cracked in several places, we replace a longer run.
Test and restore
We pressure test the repair, bring water back slowly, and check for hammer or secondary leaks.
Leave you ready for the next step
We tell you what we found, what to photograph for your insurer, and what drying and wall repair should come next.
What Millbrae homes bring to a burst pipe call
Millbrae specifics for burst pipes
Millbrae's water comes entirely from the San Francisco Regional Water System, delivered through 11 pressure zones, and pressure varies by zone. If your pipe burst at a spot that looks otherwise fine, we test the house-side pressure, because a high reading shortens the life of every fitting in the house.
A large share of Millbrae's housing was built in the 1950s building boom, based on Census counts showing dwelling units rising from about 2,800 in 1950 to about 4,800 in 1960. In houses that age, original supply pipe can still be in service, and a burst is often the first sign the line is tired. We cannot say what material is in a given house until we see it, so we look before we recommend anything.
The San Andreas Fault lies within a mile of the western city limits, and the city's hazard planning flags landslide and liquefaction areas inside Millbrae. Ground movement is a real contributor to cracked pipe in this region. If a burst follows a quake or a slope shift, we check fittings and buried sections for more strain.
Spot repair or a longer replacement
DIY or what people try
- Wrap the break with tape or a rubber patch and leave it
- Push a push-fit coupling on a corroded pipe
- Turn the water back on to see if it holds
- Cut out the damaged piece and glue in new pipe without checking the rest
Professional approach
- Shut off, drain, and expose the full failure before cutting
- Cut back to sound pipe and join with the right fitting for the material
- Pressure test before water goes back on
- Check nearby pipe and the pressure at the house, then explain whether a longer replacement makes sense
Temporary patches are fine for stopping a leak while you wait for us. They are not fixes. A repair clamp on corroded pipe may hold for a day and fail under load, and the second failure usually happens in a worse place.
What a burst pipe repair costs
What drives burst pipe cost
Burst pipe pricing depends on where the failure is and how much pipe has to come out.
Location
an exposed garage pipe is simpler than one inside a finished wall.
Pipe material and size
copper, galvanized, and plastic lines call for different fittings and labor.
Length of replacement
one failure in sound pipe is a spot fix, while corroded runs need more.
Access and finish work
opening drywall or tile adds time, and closing it up is a separate step.
Permit requirements
permits may apply, and the Millbrae Building Division handles plumbing permits.
Call the 24/7 line for a clear price before work starts. Many homeowner policies cover sudden water damage, so save your photos and ask your insurer what they need.
Pipe burst and water still running?
Close the main valve and call us. We will tell you what to do while we are on our way and give you a clear price before work starts.
Related pipe problems
If the burst is the visible part of a bigger leak problem, our leak detection service tracks down hidden water. When a line keeps failing in different places, a repiping consultation gives you a long-term answer rather than another patch.
If the break is outside, between the meter and the house, you are looking at water service line repair instead. We also serve the next town over, and the Burlingame page covers what we do there.
Questions about burst pipes
Yes, the line is open 24/7. Close the main valve, keep people away from wet electrical areas, and call. We schedule the first available visit and give you a clear price before work starts.
Shut off the main water valve, open a faucet at the lowest point to drain the line, and stay away from wet electrical areas. Photograph the damage, then call us.
Often yes. If the failure is a clean split in sound pipe, we replace just that section. If the pipe is corroded or cracked in several places, we explain why a longer run makes more sense.
Many policies cover sudden water damage, though not always the pipe itself. Take photos before cleanup, keep receipts, and ask your insurer what documentation they require.
Permits may apply, and the Millbrae Building Division handles plumbing permits. Small spot repairs and larger replacements can be treated differently, so we tell you what applies once we see the work.
A simple split can be fixed the same day when we can get there. Longer replacements and finish work take more time, and we tell you the plan up front so you are not guessing.
Corrosion, high pressure, and ground movement all split pipes without any cold. Age is the biggest factor, so we look at the pipe on both sides of the break and test the pressure at the house.
If water is draining from the system, turn off power or gas to the heater so it does not run dry. If you smell gas, leave the building and call 911 and your gas utility before calling us.
Sources and standards: The California Plumbing Code (based on the Uniform Plumbing Code). The Millbrae Building Division for permits. The California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) C-36 plumbing classification.