A pipe burst. Do this now.
Shut off the water at the main valve, then get people and pets away from any water near electricity. Speed matters because water keeps moving through floors and walls after the pipe stops, and what you photograph in the first hour is the only record of how the home looked before cleanup.
Once the water is off, photograph everything before anyone touches it, then review your policy's notice requirements.
Do this now
- 1
Get people and pets away from standing water near outlets or panels.
If the water is near electrical service, stay out and call an electrician or the utility.
- 2
Shut the water off at the main valve.
If you cannot find or turn the valve, call a plumber and say it is an active leak.
- 3
Photograph and film everything before cleanup starts.
Wide shots of each room, then close shots of the pipe, the ceiling, the flooring and each damaged item.
- 4
Take reasonable steps to prevent more damage.
Move what you can lift, block the water, start air moving, and keep every receipt.
- 5
Review your policy's notice requirements and report if you may have a claim.
Tell them what you know. If you do not know the cause or how long it ran, say that.
Your situation
A few quick questions
Answer what you know. Not sure is a real answer.
Where is the water coming from?
Is water still coming in right now?
Do you see mold?
Can you stay in the home?
Why your policy matters
Different provisions in your own policy may apply to a situation like this, and they are not all in the same place in the document.
After reads the documents you upload and shows you the wording, word for word, with the page it came from.
After does not decide coverage. Your policy, the facts of the loss, applicable law and your insurer decide how a claim is handled.
- How the water entered, which is usually written as its own provision.
- Tear out and replace, meaning opening walls or floors to reach the damage.
- The mold or fungi limit, which is often a separate figure.
- Your deductible, including any separate wind or named storm deductible.
- Loss of Use, the wording about living somewhere else.
- Duties after loss, meaning prompt notice, records and receipts.
Free to start. Private policy analysis. No insurance jargon.
Questions people ask
Do I have to turn the water off before a plumber arrives?
If you can reach the main valve safely, turning it off stops more water from entering the house. Policies normally ask you to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage. If the valve is stuck or you cannot reach it, that is a reason to call rather than a failure on your part.
Should I dry the house out myself or hire someone?
Fans and dehumidifiers help in a small area you can reach. Water inside walls, under flooring or across several rooms usually needs equipment and moisture readings a homeowner does not have. Keep receipts either way, and photograph the wet areas before drying begins.
Can I throw out soaked carpet and cabinets?
When safe and practical, keep damaged property until you know whether your insurer wants to inspect it. If something has to go for safety or sanitation, photograph it first, note the date, and keep the disposal record.
What if the pipe froze?
Write down the temperature, whether the heat was on, and whether the house was occupied. Freezing provisions often turn on those facts. Record what you know rather than guessing.
Keep reading
Informational only. Not legal or insurance advice. After never states what your insurer will decide.