If a pipe has burst, shut off the main water valve right now. It is usually in the basement, a utility room or near the water meter, and it turns clockwise to close. Then call our 24/7 line, which is answered around the clock, and we book same-day appointments when available in Maryland Heights.
While you wait, switch off power to wet rooms at the breaker, open the lowest faucet to drain the lines and move anything valuable away from the water. Do not walk through standing water near outlets.
A crew will stop the leak, cut out the failed section and replace it with new pipe. When the burst is a sign of failing pipe throughout the house, we explain that and the options before you decide.
What to do in the first ten minutes
Speed matters, but so does doing these steps in order.
Shut off the main water
Find the main valve and turn it clockwise. A ball valve closes with a quarter turn of the handle.
Cut the power to wet areas
If water is near outlets, appliances or the panel, turn off the breakers before stepping in.
Drain the system
Open the lowest faucet and flush toilets once to relieve remaining pressure.
Contain and photograph
Mop or use towels to slow spread, and take photos of the pipe, the walls and the damage for your insurer.
Call the 24/7 line
Tell the dispatcher what burst, where and whether the water is off.
If you cannot find the main valve or it will not turn, say so on the call. We have ways to stop the water at the curb or the meter, and the dispatcher will tell you what to do.
Why pipes burst: copper, PEX and galvanized
Every pipe material fails in its own way, which is why identifying the pipe is the first diagnostic step.
| Material | How it fails | Typical repair |
|---|---|---|
| Copper | Pinhole corrosion, freeze splits, failed solder joints | Cut out the section and sweat in new copper or use push-fit couplings |
| PEX | Freeze expansion, fitting failures, UV damage | Replace the damaged run or fitting with crimped or expansion connections |
| Galvanized steel | Internal rust narrowing the bore, then splitting | Replace the section, and consider repiping if rust is widespread |
| CPVC | Brittleness with age, cracked fittings | Replace the section with new CPVC and fittings |
If galvanized pipe is bursting in more than one place, spot repairs start to look like a poor use of money, and repiping deserves a closer look.
Frozen pipes that burst
Freezing water expands inside a pipe, and the pipe usually splits at the weakest point. The split often does not leak until the ice melts, which is why a flood can start hours after the cold snap ends.
If you find a frozen pipe that has not yet burst, keep the faucet slightly open and warm the area gently with a hair dryer or space heater placed safely away from anything flammable. If you see a split or hear water running behind a wall, shut off the main and call us. Insulating pipes in unheated spaces helps prevent repeat failures.
Cracked drain pipes and supply valves
Not every burst is on the pressurized side. A cracked drain line can leak into a wall or under a floor when water runs, and a failed supply valve under a sink or behind a toilet can spray water until the main is closed.
A broken fixture valve is a smaller repair, and it is covered in more detail on our faucet repair page. A cracked drain pipe under a slab or in a wall may require a camera and a targeted opening, which is why we sometimes bring in leak detection equipment to find it.
Repair methods and when each fits
The repair depends on how much pipe is damaged and where it sits.
| Method | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Section replacement | A single split or pinhole on a straight run | Requires access to cut and join |
| Coupling or repair clamp | A temporary or small repair | Often a short-term fix on old pipe |
| Rerouting a run | A leak inside an inaccessible wall or slab | Adds new pipe in exposed spaces |
| Repipe | Repeated failures across the house | Larger project, but ends the cycle of leaks |
We explain the options plainly. If the pipe around the burst is weak, a short repair may not hold, and we say so.
Insurance, documentation and water damage
What to do for your claim
Sudden burst damage is often covered by homeowner policies, while wear and gradual corrosion usually are not. Ask your insurer which category your loss falls into.
Photograph the failed pipe before it is removed, the wet materials and the water line on the walls. Keep the damaged section if the plumber gives it to you. A restoration company handles drying, and we focus on stopping the water and repairing the pipe.
Local picture
The City of Maryland Heights lists stopping leaks as ordinary repair that does not need a permit. It also says permits can be pulled without plans for replacing interior or exterior water lines, so a larger replacement may need one. Ask the building division at (314) 291-6550 if you are unsure.
Water pressure is also worth checking after a burst. If Missouri American Water is working on a main near your street, as it did with a 2021 aging main replacement on McKelvey Road, pressure surges and temporary outages can stress older pipe.
What affects the price of burst pipe repair
Pipe material and size
Copper, PEX and galvanized all require different parts and techniques.
Location of the break
A split in an open basement is simpler than one inside a finished wall.
Extent of damage
A single failure costs less than a run of weak pipe.
Wall or floor access
Opening and patching drywall adds time and materials.
After-hours timing
Night and holiday dispatch is priced differently from a weekday visit.
You hear the price before work starts. Call our dispatch line for your own number, and we also serve Bridgeton and nearby ZIP codes with the same emergency service.
Pipe standards that decide a repair
Copper tube is made to ASTM B88 and PEX tubing to ASTM F876, and the repair fitting has to match the pipe type. A fitting made for one material can fail on another, so a plumber should name the pipe and the fitting before cutting.
Stopping a leak is ordinary repair under the City of Maryland Heights permit rules. Replacing water lines is not, so ask the building division when a repair turns into a replacement.
Burst pipe questions from Maryland Heights homeowners
Yes. Burst and split pipes are the calls the 24/7 line exists for. Close the main shutoff, then phone us at any hour. We book same-day appointments when available and say what the repair costs before cutting into a wall or ceiling.
It is usually where the water line enters the house, often in a basement, utility room or near the water heater. It may also be at the curb in a meter box. If you cannot find it, tell the dispatcher.
Sudden burst damage is often covered, but wear and corrosion usually are not. Ask your insurer and photograph everything before cleanup.
Sometimes. If the pipe is frozen but not split, thawing it gently can help. Call us if you hear running water or see a split.
The city lists stopping leaks as ordinary repair that does not need a permit, and says permits can be pulled without plans for replacing water lines. Ask the building division at (314) 291-6550 about your project.