What Should You Do About a Burst Pipe Under the Slab?
Shut the main water valve first, then stay away from wet outlets and photograph the damage. Call a plumber to fix the pipe and a restoration crew to remove the water and dry the slab. Do not cut or drill into the concrete.
Right Now: Stop the Water and Stay Safe
The pipe keeps pushing water up until the supply is closed. Turn the main shutoff clockwise until it stops, or a quarter turn if it has a lever, then open a faucet to drain the pipes.
Safety comes next. Water and electricity do not mix, so keep out of rooms where outlets, cords or floor boxes sit in the water.
- Close the main water valve
- Open one faucet to drain the pipes
- Stay out of wet rooms with outlets in the water
- Cut power to a wet area only from a dry spot
- Keep hands and feet off hot floor spots
Burst Pipe Services That Fit This Question
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What to Do When a Pipe Bursts Under the Slab
Shut the main valve, stay away from wet outlets, take photos and call a crew for extraction.
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Drying Out After a Burst Pipe Under the Slab
Slab drying runs on dehumidifiers, airflow and daily readings, and it ends only at a dry reference.
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Burst Pipe Under Slab Insurance Claims
Coverage varies by policy, and records carry the claim. Crews log the loss from the first visit.
Next: Record the Damage and Make the Calls
Before anything moves, take photos and video of the wet floors, the water meter and any ruined belongings. Dated images support the insurance claim.
Then call two trades. The plumber finds and fixes the broken pipe, and a restoration crew removes the water. Report the loss to your insurer and keep every receipt.
- Photos of each wet room and the meter
- A call to a plumber for the pipe
- A call to a restoration crew for the water
- A report to your insurer
- Receipts saved for emergency costs
What the Crew Does When It Arrives
The crew checks for electrical hazards first, then pumps water from the lowest point outward. A thermal camera and meters map where the moisture went, and a moisture map goes in the file.
Soaked pad and glued flooring come up, wet baseboards come off and drywall is cut only as high as the readings show. Dehumidifiers and air movers go in, and daily readings continue until the slab is dry.
- Safe pump-out of the standing water
- A moisture map built from thermal imaging and meter readings
- Removal of materials that hold water
- Dehumidifiers and air movers sized to the rooms
- Daily readings logged for the claim
What Not to Do
A few well-meant moves make things worse. Cutting or drilling into the slab can hit other pipes or cables, and the plumber is the right person to decide how to reach the break.
Waiting is the other mistake. Water climbs the walls and soaks flooring while a house waits, so call Slab Pipe Burst Pros the moment the valve is shut.
- Do not drill, chisel or dig into the concrete
- Do not use a household vacuum on standing water
- Do not walk through water near outlets
- Do not throw out wet items before photographing them
- Do not wait for the floor to dry on its own
Start the under-slab dry-out (888) 774-9605
More Burst Pipe Questions
What Should You Do About a Burst Pipe Under the Slab: More Answers
Where is the main water valve in a slab house?
Look near the water meter by the curb, on the outside wall facing the street, or in the garage near the water heater. Some homes have a second shutoff where the supply enters the house.
Should I turn off the water heater?
If a hot water pipe is leaking and the tank is draining, many plumbers advise turning off the heater's power or gas control so it does not run empty. Ask the plumber when you call.
Can cleanup start before the pipe is fixed?
Yes, as long as the supply is off. Extraction and equipment setup can go on while the plumber arranges the repair, though a valve that will not close puts the plumber first.
Do I need to be home when the crew arrives?
An adult who can approve the work should be there. The crew needs access to the wet rooms, and the technician will explain what comes out and what stays.
Water damage gets worse by the hour. Call now to get burst pipe under slab cleanup started, 24/7.