Burst Pipe: What to Do First in Utah County

Reviewed by Tyler Bennett, Restoration Project Manager, IICRC WRT/ASD #291438, October 2026.

Short answer: If a pipe bursts, shut off the main water valve first, then turn off power to wet areas if you can do it safely. Take photos, call your insurer and get a restoration crew drying the home fast, because water spreads into walls and floors within hours.

If water is already spreading through your home, our emergency water damage crew in Spanish Fork answers live 24/7 and can be on the way in minutes.

Step 1: Shut off the water at the main

Every minute a burst pipe runs, more water soaks into floors, walls and cabinets. Stopping the flow is the single most important thing you can do.

Most homes have a main shutoff valve where the water line enters the house. In many local homes it sits in the basement, a utility room or near the water heater. Turn it clockwise until it stops.

If you cannot find it or it will not turn, call us. We can talk you through it on the phone while the crew is on the way.

Step 2: Make the area safe

Water and electricity do not mix. If water is near outlets, cords or the electrical panel, stay out of standing water.

Turn off breakers for the wet area only if you can reach the panel from a dry spot.
If the panel itself is wet, do not touch it. Wait for help.
Watch for sagging ceilings. A bulging ceiling can hold a lot of water and may drop without warning.
Keep kids and pets out of the wet rooms.

Step 3: Drain the lines and open a faucet

After the main is off, open a faucet on the lowest level of the house. This lets water left in the pipes drain out instead of leaking through the break.

If the burst came from a frozen pipe, open the faucets on that line too. Never use an open flame to thaw a pipe.

Step 4: Document before you clean

Insurance adjusters want to see what happened. Take photos and short videos before you move anything.

Shoot the broken pipe up close if you can see it.
Film each wet room from the doorway, then walk the edges.
Photograph damaged furniture, rugs and boxes.
Write down the time you found the leak and the time you shut the water off.

Then call your insurance company to report the loss. Most policies ask for prompt notice. Check your policy for what applies to you.

Step 5: Protect what you can

Move rugs, electronics, papers and photos to a dry room. Put foil or plastic under furniture legs so stains do not transfer to wet carpet.

Do not use a household vacuum on water. It is not built for it and can shock you.

What a restoration crew does next

Once the pipe is stopped, the real work is getting water out of places you cannot see. Water wicks up drywall and runs under flooring and baseboards.

Phase	What happens
Inspection	We map wet areas with pin and pinless moisture meters and a FLIR thermal camera.
Extraction	We pull standing water out of carpet, pad and subfloor.
Drying	Air movers and LGR dehumidifiers run, usually for 3–5 days, with daily moisture checks.
Repair	The same crew handles drywall, flooring, trim, cabinets and paint.

Water from a supply pipe is usually Category 1 (clean) under IICRC S500. That can change if it sits, runs through dirty areas or mixes with other water.

A licensed plumber fixes the pipe itself. We handle the drying and the rebuild. You can read more on our burst pipe cleanup service page.

What it may cost

Water mitigation usually runs $3,500–$8,500. A typical dry-out is about $4,500. Reconstruction usually runs $4,500–$9,500 when walls or floors need to be rebuilt.

Every job is different, so we give free written estimates. See our breakdown of water damage repair costs for more detail.

We bill insurance directly and scope the job in Xactimate. We work with Allstate, State Farm, Farmers, USAA, Liberty Mutual and Nationwide. You pay your deductible.

Why winter makes this worse

Many burst pipes in Utah County happen in cold snaps. Pipes in exterior walls, crawl spaces and garages freeze, then split. The leak often shows up when the ice thaws.

If you want to avoid a repeat, read our guide to preventing frozen pipes.

Common questions

Should I turn off the water heater after a pipe bursts?

If you shut off the main, it is a good idea to turn the water heater off too. For electric units, flip the breaker. For gas units, set it to pilot or off. This protects the tank while it cannot refill.

Can I dry it out myself with fans?

Fans dry the surface, but water hides in wall cavities, under flooring and in the subfloor. Without meters you cannot tell when it is truly dry. Trapped moisture can lead to mold within 24–48 hours.

Does insurance cover a burst pipe?

Many policies cover sudden and accidental pipe bursts. Slow leaks and neglect are often treated differently. Check your policy and call your agent. We bill insurance directly once a claim is open.

How fast can you get here?

We guarantee 45-minute arrival inside Spanish Fork city limits, or the emergency inspection is free. In Springville, Mapleton, Payson, Salem and Saratoga Springs we are typically there in under 60 minutes.

Will you need to cut my drywall?

Sometimes. If drywall is soaked or the water was not clean, we may make a flood cut to dry the cavity. If it can be dried in place, we dry it in place.