Water is coming through my wall and I think a pipe burst inside the wall. What should I do right now?
This is an emergency. Turn off the main water supply to your house immediately. If you do not know where the shut-off valve is, look in the basement near the front wall, in the garage, or near the water meter. Turn the valve clockwise for gate valves or perpendicular to the pipe for ball valves. After the water is off, open a faucet on the lowest level of your house to drain remaining water from the pipes and reduce pressure. Move furniture and valuables away from the affected area. Place buckets and towels to collect dripping water. If drywall is bulging from trapped water, poke a small hole at the lowest point of the bulge with a screwdriver and let the water drain into a bucket — this prevents the ceiling from collapsing. Take photos and videos for insurance documentation. Call a plumber for emergency repair. While waiting, run fans and a dehumidifier to start drying. Contact your insurance company to report the water damage. Do NOT turn the water back on until the pipe is repaired.
