What Should You Do About a Burst PEX Pipe?
Close the main water valve first, or the manifold valve for the broken branch if your home has one. Then make the power safe near wet areas, photograph the damage and lift belongings off wet floors. Call a plumber to repair the pipe and a restoration crew to pump out the water and dry the structure.
Stop the Water
Every minute the valve stays open adds more wet floor and wetter walls. The main shutoff usually sits near the water meter, the water heater, or where the pipe enters the house.
Many PEX homes also have a manifold, a panel of small valves in a closet, basement or utility room. Closing the valve for the broken branch can stop the flow while the rest of the house keeps water.
If hot water is involved, closing the shutoff at the water heater can limit how much hot water reaches the break.
- Close the main valve, turning it fully
- Close the manifold valve for the leaking branch, if you can tell which one
- Open the lowest faucet to drain the pipes and relieve pressure
- Close the shutoff at the water heater if hot water is involved
- If the valve will not turn, call a plumber first
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Make the House Safe
Water and electricity do not mix. Switch off the breakers for wet rooms, but only from a panel in a dry spot, and never wade through water to reach one.
Stay out of rooms with sagging ceilings, since trapped water can drop without warning. An electrician should check any outlet, switch or fixture that got wet before it is used again.
- Switch off breakers for wet areas from a dry panel
- Stay away from sagging or bulging ceilings
- Keep children and pets out of wet rooms
- Do not use a household vacuum on standing water
- Never use a torch or open flame to dry or thaw PEX
Document and Protect
Take wide and close photos or video of every wet area, the spot where the water first appeared and any visible split tubing or fitting. Dated pictures support the insurance claim.
Then lift valuables, rugs, electronics and small furniture off wet floors, and open the doors of wet cabinets. Leave wet drywall and baseboard in place until the crew takes readings.
- Photograph and video each wet room before moving anything
- Lift belongings off wet carpet and flooring
- Place foil or wood blocks under furniture legs on wet carpet
- Open cabinet doors so air can reach wet backs and bases
- Keep the failed tubing or fitting for the plumber and insurer
Call for Help
A plumber repairs the pipe, and a restoration crew pumps out the water and dries the structure. Call both at once so extraction starts while the repair is underway.
Local crews run 24/7, and they treat a burst PEX pipe as urgent. Call PEX Pipe Burst Team at (888) 527-9860 and describe where the water is, whether it is hot or cold, and how many rooms are wet.
Describe the leak plainly: where the water is, how much has spread and whether any ceiling is sagging. That helps the crew bring the right pumps and dryers.
- Call a restoration crew for extraction and drying
- Call a plumber to repair the broken run
- Tell your insurer promptly about the loss
- Keep every receipt and invoice for the claim
- Ask the crew for the moisture map and daily readings
Start drying the wet rooms (888) 527-9860
More Burst Pipe Questions
What Should You Do About a Burst PEX Pipe: More Answers
Should I call the plumber or the restoration crew first?
Call both. Once the main valve is closed, the crew can start extraction while the plumber repairs the pipe. If the water cannot be stopped, the plumber comes first.
Is it safe to stay in the house?
Often, once the water is off and the power to wet areas is safe. Sagging ceilings, wet outlets and standing water are the exceptions, so stay out of those rooms until the crew checks them.
What if I cannot find the main valve?
Look near the water meter, on a basement or crawl space wall, in the garage or beside the water heater. If it is stuck or missing, call a plumber right away and tell the restoration crew.
Can I clean up the water myself?
Mopping surface water helps, but it will not reach the moisture in subfloors, insulation and wall cavities. Structural drying with meters and dehumidifiers finishes the job, and mold can start growing within 24 to 48 hours.
Water damage gets worse by the hour. Call now to get burst pex pipe cleanup started, 24/7.