Step 1: Shut Off the Water Fast
Every minute a burst pipe runs, more water soaks into floors, walls, and insulation. Stopping the flow is the single most important step. Everything else can wait a few minutes.
Find your main shut-off valve
The main valve controls all the water entering your home. Common locations include:
- Where the water line enters the house, often near the foundation
- A garage wall, utility room, or near the water heater
- Under a kitchen sink or in a crawl space
- At the water meter near the street, if there is no inside valve
Turn a round wheel handle clockwise until it stops. For a lever handle, turn it so it sits across the pipe.
What the Georgia EPD recommends
The Georgia Environmental Protection Division's homeowner guidance lays out these steps when pipes burst:
- Shut off water at the main valve inside the house.
- If there is no inside valve, shut it off at the curb or near the meter.
- Leave the faucets turned on.
- If the break is in a hot water pipe, close the valve on top of the water heater.
- Call a licensed plumber.
Learn it before you need it
The EPD also advises that everyone in the family knows where the shut-off is and how to use it. Take five minutes this week to find yours. If the valve is stuck or missing, a plumber can install or replace it.
Step 2: Make the Area Safe
Water and electricity are a dangerous mix. Before you step into standing water, think about what power sources are nearby.
Electrical safety
- Do not walk into water that may touch outlets, cords, or appliances.
- If you can reach your breaker panel safely and stay dry, turn off power to the wet area.
- If the panel itself is wet or in standing water, stay away and call an electrician.
- Unplug small appliances only if you are standing on a dry surface.
Water heater safety
If the burst line is a hot water pipe, closing the valve on top of the water heater stops the flow from the tank. For a gas water heater, you can turn the gas control to the off or pilot position. For an electric heater, switch off its breaker.
Watch for hidden hazards
- Wet ceilings can sag and fall. Stay out from under bulging drywall.
- Floors may be slippery, especially tile and hardwood.
- Water from a sewer or drain line may carry bacteria. Avoid contact.
Drain the remaining water
With the main valve closed, open a cold faucet at the lowest point in the house. Then open an upstairs faucet. This lets the water left in the pipes drain out instead of leaking through the break.
Flushing a toilet once also helps empty the line. Keep the faucets open until a plumber arrives, as the EPD guidance suggests.
Step 3: Limit the Water Damage
Once the water is off and the area is safe, work fast to protect your home. Water that sits for a day or two can seep deeper and invite mold.
Quick damage control
- Move furniture, rugs, electronics, and papers out of the wet area.
- Put foil or blocks under furniture legs that cannot be moved.
- Mop up standing water and wring towels into buckets.
- Use a wet-dry vacuum if you have one.
- Open windows and run fans if the weather allows.
- Put a bucket under any ceiling drip.
Document everything
Take photos and video before you clean up too much. Capture the burst pipe, the water, and damaged belongings. Your homeowner's insurance company may ask for these.
Keep receipts for any cleanup supplies or emergency repairs. Call your insurer early to learn what they need and whether they cover the loss.
Watch for what you cannot see
Water travels. It can run inside walls, under flooring, and into subfloors. A dry-looking surface may hide moisture underneath.
If you suspect water spread out of sight, our leak and slab leak detection services can help locate it. A professional water damage restoration company can also dry walls and floors properly.
Step 4: Get the Pipe Repaired the Right Way
A temporary patch can buy time. It is not a permanent fix. The damaged section needs a proper repair by a licensed plumber.
Temporary measures that can help
- A pipe repair clamp over a small split
- Rubber sheet and hose clamps as a short-term wrap
- Repair tape rated for plumbing, for pinhole leaks
Keep the main water off until the repair is complete, even with a patch in place. Patches can fail under full pressure.
What a plumber will check
- The break itself. What kind of pipe it is and why it failed.
- Nearby sections. Pipes near a burst often have hidden cracks, especially after a freeze.
- Water pressure. High pressure can stress pipes and fittings.
- Pipe material and age. Some older materials fail more often.
- Exposure. Whether the pipe runs through a cold attic, crawl space, or outside wall.
When repiping makes sense
One burst on an otherwise healthy system usually needs a single repair. Repeated leaks or aging pipe throughout the house can point to a bigger issue. In that case, replacing more of the plumbing may prevent the next emergency.
Our repiping and water line repair services cover frozen and leaking pipes, water lines, and whole-home repiping. You will see your options and total costs upfront, before any work begins.
Why Pipes Freeze and Burst in Georgia
Georgia winters are usually mild, but hard freezes still happen. Many homes have pipes in attics, crawl spaces, and outside walls with little protection. A few cold nights can be enough to cause trouble.
Cold snaps do reach Tyrone
The National Weather Service office in Peachtree City recorded two arctic airmasses in January 2025. Peachtree City reached a low of 10°F on January 22, 2025. Atlanta's low on January 22 was 14°F.
When to take action
The Georgia EPD guidance says homeowners should watch for bursting pipes when temperatures threaten to drop into the 20 to 30°F range. It notes this threshold is aimed at homes where sub-freezing weather happens only a few times a season. Water expands as it freezes, and that pressure can break metal or plastic pipe.
Most at-risk pipes
- Pipes in attics and crawl spaces
- Lines along exterior walls
- Pipes under kitchen and bathroom sinks on outside walls
- Garage water lines
- Outdoor hose bibs and sprinkler supply lines
- Where the water service enters through the foundation
How to prevent frozen pipes
The EPD guidance recommends these steps before and during a freeze:
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| Fall | Drain and store hoses; close inside valves to outdoor faucets |
| Fall | Insulate pipes in attics, crawl spaces, and garages |
| Before a freeze | Open sink cabinet doors on outside walls |
| Before a freeze | Keep the thermostat steady day and night |
| During a freeze | Let vulnerable faucets drip slowly |
| If you travel | Leave the heat on, set no lower than 55°F |
How to thaw a frozen pipe safely
If only a trickle comes out of a faucet, suspect a frozen pipe. Keep the faucet open. The EPD suggests warming the pipe with a hair dryer, heating pad, or hot towels.
Never use a blowtorch, kerosene or propane heater, or any open flame. If you cannot find or reach the frozen section, call a licensed plumber.
What Burst Pipe Repair Costs Depend On
We do not quote prices without seeing the damage. Burst pipe repairs range from a simple fitting to opening a wall or ceiling. Several factors set the total.
Main cost factors
| Factor | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Location of the break | Exposed pipes cost less to reach than pipes in walls or slabs |
| Pipe material | Copper, PEX, CPVC, and galvanized steel need different parts |
| Size of the damaged section | A short split is simpler than a long crack |
| Number of breaks | Freezes can damage more than one spot |
| Access work | Opening drywall or ceilings adds labor |
| Hidden damage | Leak detection may be needed to find it |
No after-hours fees
Pipes do not wait for business hours. We don't charge after-hour fees, even during holidays and weekends. You won't pay an extra after-hours fee for a call at 2 a.m. on a Sunday.
Upfront pricing and financing
We provide a full menu of options and total costs before any work begins. For larger repairs or repiping, financing is available with $0 down and affordable monthly payments, subject to credit approval. Visit our financing page to learn more.
When to Call a Professional
You can and should handle the first few minutes yourself. Shutting off the water and moving belongings are homeowner jobs. The repair itself is a job for a licensed plumber.
Call right away when
- A pipe has burst or is spraying water.
- You cannot find or close the main shut-off valve.
- Water is near electrical panels, outlets, or appliances.
- A ceiling is sagging or dripping.
- You suspect a frozen pipe you cannot reach.
- Water pressure drops suddenly across the house.
What to tell us when you call
- Where the leak is and whether the water is off
- Whether water has reached electrical outlets or the panel
- If the pipe is hot water, cold water, or a drain
- Whether it followed a freeze
- Any sagging ceilings or wet floors in other rooms
Why a quick call matters
A burst pipe does not get better on its own. Water spreads, materials swell, and mold can start in damp spaces. The sooner the line is repaired, the sooner you can turn the water back on safely.
We answer phones 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Our technicians are highly trained, background-checked, and drug-tested. Our work is led under Georgia Master Plumber license MP208643.
Learn more
Learn more about 24/7 emergency plumbing in Tyrone or emergency plumbing in Peachtree City.
Need a Plumber in Tyrone? Benjamin Franklin Plumbing Is Ready to Help
A burst pipe is stressful, but fast action limits the damage. Our Tyrone team is available 24/7 to stop the leak, repair the pipe, and explain your options with upfront pricing. We never charge after-hours fees, even on holidays and weekends.
Call us at (470) 975-7770 or contact us today to get help in Tyrone and across Fayette and Coweta Counties.