Bellevue, WA · King County
Burst Pipe Water Damage
Water spraying from a wall, dripping through the ceiling or running across the floor after a freeze? Shut off the water first. Then call (425) 307-0286 to reach a local restoration company. That company removes the water, dries the house and records the damage for your insurance company.
Call (425) 307-0286.
What is a burst pipe?
A burst pipe is a water supply or drain pipe that splits or cracks, so water escapes under pressure. Water can spray from a wall, drip through a ceiling or run across the floor.
This break often happen when water inside a pipe freezes and expands, or when an older supply line or fitting wears out. A split can stay hidden inside a wall or under a slab until the water shows up.
Pipe burst? What do I do right now?
Turn off the main water valve before you do anything else, including mopping. Every minute the valve stays open, more water soaks into walls, carpet pad and subfloor.
- Turn off the main shutoff valve. In most Bellevue homes the main shutoff is in the City meter box near the curb, between the sidewalk and the street. You need a meter box key, sold at home improvement stores. Turn the valve a half turn clockwise until the arrow points away from the meter (City of Bellevue). Some homes also have a house-side valve, often in the garage. If you can’t find it, or it won’t close, go to step 2.
- Call the City of Bellevue if the leak is at the meter or the street, or your valve fails. Contact the City of Bellevue; the City handles its side of the line. For the damage inside your home, call (425) 307-0286.
- Stay clear of electricity. Don’t walk through water near outlets, cords or appliances. If water is coming through a ceiling light or reaching the breaker panel, keep away and call an electrician.
- Take photos before anything moves. Get wide shots of each wet room, close-ups of the broken pipe and pictures of damaged belongings. Keep the broken section of pipe if the plumber removes it.
- Call (425) 307-0286. Tell the company where the pipe broke, roughly how long it ran and which rooms are wet.
Is a broken pipe a 911 call? Usually not. Use the City water lines above for the water itself. Call 911 if someone is hurt, if you see sparks or smoke, or if you smell gas.
The failure at night? Shut off the main, move valuables out of the wet area and call (425) 307-0286. Mopping can wait.
My pipes are frozen but haven’t burst. What should I do?
Treat a frozen pipe as if it may already be cracked.
- Know where your main shutoff is before the pipe thaws, so you can close it fast.
- Open the faucet on that line so melting water has somewhere to go.
- Never use an open flame.
- Open the cabinet doors under sinks on outside walls.
If water starts spraying as the pipe warms, close the main and call (425) 307-0286. Our extraction and drying page explains what happens next.
Why do burst pipes start leaking when they thaw?
Many burst-pipe floods start when the weather warms up, not at the coldest moment. Ice inside a pipe can split it, and the ice plugs the crack. Once it melts, full water pressure pushes through the split.
The February 2021 freeze showed this in Bellevue.
If a big freeze hits, call early and keep the main off until help arrives. Our checklist for what to do right after water damage covers the first steps.
How often does a hard freeze hit?
Freezing weather can happen in Bellevue in any winter. The NOAA station at Seattle Sand Point averages 25.0 freezing days per year (1991–2020 normals).
Holiday freezes are the riskiest. A pipe can burst in an empty house and run for days. If you travel between late November and mid-March, turn off the main before you leave.
Before the next freeze, read our Bellevue frozen pipe guide for prevention steps.
Who fixes the pipe, and who dries the house?
A plumber and a restoration company do different jobs. A licensed plumber repairs the pipe. A restoration company removes the water and dries the structure.
Restoration crews aren’t plumbers unless they hold that license. Leak under the concrete floor? See slab leak water damage.
This break inside a wall usually means opening some drywall. The plumber needs room to reach the pipe, and the wall cavity needs air to dry. A good restoration company cuts only as much as the moisture readings call for.
A typical burst-pipe job splits into three roles:
- Plumber: finds the break, repairs or replaces the pipe, and pressure-tests the line.
- Restoration company: extracts standing water, maps the wet area with moisture meters, sets up dehumidifiers and fans (air movers), and records daily readings.
- You: keep the photos, receipts and the broken pipe, and report the claim to your insurer.
Do I need a permit?
Plumbing work needs a permit in Bellevue, and so do water heater and water line replacement. Cosmetic work such as painting, carpet, cabinets and trim does not (City of Bellevue, “When is a Permit Required?”). The licensed plumber normally pulls the plumbing permit. Contractors must also register with the City before working in Bellevue. Ask for the registration number.
Pipe fixed and floor still wet? Call (425) 307-0286. Drying should start the same visit the water stops.
Does homeowners insurance cover a burst pipe?
Usually yes. A slow leak that went on for weeks is often excluded, and so is mold that grows from it.
Policies also expect you to take reasonable steps to stop more damage (Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner). Turning off the water and starting drying quickly are those steps. Waiting can cost you part of the claim.
A few things to know:
- Check the pipe coverage. The policy may pay for water damage to the house but not for the pipe repair itself. Check your policy, or ask your agent.
- Your adjuster decides. Your adjuster decides what’s covered. Ask the restoration company for dated photos, daily moisture readings and a list of what was removed, for you and your adjuster.
- No public adjusting. A restoration company shouldn’t negotiate your claim.
- No deductible waivers. No company should offer to waive or absorb your deductible.
For typical prices, see water damage restoration cost.
Older homes and polybutylene pipe
Older homes can have supply lines made of copper, PEX or polybutylene. Ask the plumber which material your lines are made of.
Knowing the pipe material helps you plan repairs and talk to your insurer.
A water main break in the street is a different problem. That’s City pipe, so call the City lines above, not a plumber. If City pipe damaged your home, see who pays for water damage.
What happens when the crew arrives
- Confirm the water is off and the area is safe to work in.
- Extract standing water from carpet, pad and hard floors.
- Map the moisture. Meters and a thermal camera show how far the water went under baseboards and into walls.
- Remove what can’t be dried, such as soaked pad or swollen drywall, and photograph it first.
- Set up drying equipment and come back daily to take readings. Equipment comes off when the readings reach the drying goal. See how long drying takes.
More on each step, and how billing works, is on how we work.
Frequently asked questions
Should I turn off the main if a pipe bursts?
Yes. Turn off the main water valve before you do anything else, including mopping. Every minute the valve stays open, more water soaks into walls, carpet pad and subfloor.
Who fixes the pipe?
A licensed plumber repairs the pipe. A restoration company removes the water and dries the structure.
Does homeowners insurance cover a burst pipe?
Usually yes.
Do I need a permit to repair a burst pipe?
Plumbing work needs a permit in Bellevue. Cosmetic work such as painting, carpet, cabinets and trim does not (City of Bellevue, “When is a Permit Required?”).
What if the pipe is frozen but hasn’t burst?
Treat a frozen pipe as if it may already be cracked. Know where your main shutoff is, open the faucet on that line, and warm the pipe gently. Never use an open flame.
Is a burst pipe a 911 call?
Usually not. Call 911 if someone is hurt, if you see sparks or smoke, or if you smell gas. Otherwise, shut off the main and call (425) 307-0286.
Pipe burst? Call (425) 307-0286
Shut off the main, take photos, then call. During a freeze week, ask the company for an honest arrival time and what to do until then.