It is imperative to contact a 24-hour plumber like YES! to make repairs immediately if you experience a burst pipe. While you are waiting for the plumber to arrive, you can minimize the damage as much as possible by turning off your main water supply and removing valuables from the area of the flooding.
If a water main breaks, your city or town is responsible for fixing the break, but you often will be responsible for repair or replacement of the water main supply line connected to your house. If your home is damaged from a public water main break, contact your municipality as well as your insurance company.
The main thing you must always do when faced with a burst pipe is call an emergency plumber and have them take a look at the damage as soon as possible. Emergency plumbers will be very experienced dealing with these issues and will be able to get your pipes back on the mend before you know it.
The national average cost of burst pipe repair is between $200 and $1,000, with most people paying around $500 for a moderate repair with a new section of pipe added. At the low end of the spectrum, for a minor repair that doesn't involve pipe replacement, you can expect to pay $150.
A burst pipe will send water flooding into your home. Locate the main water supply and shut it off to stop the flow of water, preventing additional damage. Leave the faucets on to fully drain the pipe and relieve any remaining pressure, and flush all toilets.
Homeowners insurance generally covers damage due to broken pipes if their collapse is sudden and unforeseen. However, water damage that occurs gradually due to a leaky or rusty pipe is generally not covered.
Typically, fixing a burst pipe takes anywhere from a few hours to a couple of days. Factors like damage severity, pipe accessibility, and material type affect the time needed.
Does homeowners insurance cover your sewer line if it's damaged? Damage to your sewer line may be covered by your policy if it is caused by perils such as hail or windstorms, explosions, lightning or fire, damages caused by vehicles, vandalism or falling objects.
Pipe replacement averages $1,252 and ranges from $371 to $2,133. Your plumbing repair pro can assess your home and estimate the overall cost. Pipes are the circulatory system of your house. They deliver drinking water, clean dishes, fill the bathtub, and send wastewater on its way.
We have many methods to detect a leak. If it's a sewer leak you can camera the line, open drywall and inspect the pipe, run water through the line and see if anything gets wet that isn't supposed to, or smoke test. To smoke test they'll use a smoke machine with a fan built into it to blow smoke through the system.
Either way, it's still a plumbing emergency. A burst pipe can release gallons of water, which can compromise the structural integrity of your home, such as collapsed ceilings and weakened walls. The best way to deal with a burst pipe is to shut off your home's main water line and call an emergency plumber immediately.
A burst pipe stops water supply to your taps. It can also cause flooding and damage to your property. Within the home a burst pipe is your responsibility to fix. It should be fixed immediately.
The average pipe leak repair can cost between $250 to $500, although major leaks, with resulting damage, can cost considerably more.
Examples of acts of God
For instance, if you forgot to wrap your pipes during a freeze and your house floods due to a burst pipe, that wouldn't be considered an act of God. But if a major storm hits your area and floods the bottom floor of your home, that would be an act of God.
Renters insurance may cover water leaks from a broken pipe, assuming the incident wasn't due to negligence. Your policy's personal property coverage may pay to repair or replace the items damaged from water, up to your coverage limits.
Pipes in attics, crawl spaces, and outside walls are all vulnerable to freezing, especially if there are cracks or openings that allow cold, outside air to flow across the pipes. “Wind chill,” the cooling effect of air and wind, can play a major role in accelerating freezing and bursting of water pipes.
Anticipating Plumbing Costs per Hour: What to Expect
In 2025, homeowners in the U.S. can expect to pay an average of $90 per hour for plumbing services, though rates generally span from $45 to $200 based on service type and complexity.
On average, a small-scale pipe replacement could take anywhere from a few hours to a couple of days. Just a Few Hours: For minor pipe damage or replacement of easily accessible pipe sections, professional plumbers could complete the job in just a few hours.
The cost to repipe a 2000 sq ft house is between $3,500-$15,000 on average. Some variables that will affect the total cost of the job are the size of the house, the ease of access to the pipes, the material that is used, and if any other plumbing work needs to be done.
Whether your home insurance covers plumbing leaks depends on the nature of the issue. If you experience water damage from leaky plumbing or household systems and appliances that is sudden and unexpected, then your homeowners insurance will generally cover the cost of the resulting water damage.
Homeowners insurance typically covers losses resulting from a sudden malfunction, such as a pipe bursting unexpectedly. However, a homeowners policy won't cover slow, constant leaks or other plumbing problems resulting from neglect or improper maintenance.
Homeowners insurance usually won't cover damage to your home caused by sewer, septic tank or drain backups. That's unfortunate, because these types of backups can cause thousands—even tens of thousands—of dollars of damage to your personal property.
Determining who is liable – the renter or the landlord – depends on several factors. Maintenance and Repairs: Landlords are usually responsible for maintaining the property and addressing plumbing issues. The landlord should cover the repairs if a pipe bursts due to natural wear or infrastructure issues.