Water spraying from a burst pipe right now
A burst pipe can put hundreds of gallons into a house in an hour, so speed matters more than neatness. Our line is open 24/7, nights and weekends included, and same-day appointments are offered when available.
Do these things in this order, then call.
- Close the main shutoff valve, usually where the water line enters the basement wall. Turn the handle clockwise or give a ball valve a quarter turn.
- Open the faucets, starting with the lowest and ending with the highest, to drain what is left in the pipes.
- Turn off power to any wet room at the breaker panel. Do not touch switches or outlets while standing in water.
- Shut off the water heater's power or gas if the burst is near it, so the tank does not run dry and overheat.
- Photograph the break, the water and anything damaged, with the date visible, before you start cleanup.
- Move belongings up and out, and put towels or a wet vac to work on standing water.
What a burst or cracked pipe repair involves
A burst pipe is a rupture, usually a split along the length of the pipe or a joint that blew apart. Burst pipe repair is the work of stopping the water, cutting out the damaged section and joining new pipe in its place.
The repair itself is often straightforward. The harder parts are reaching the pipe, drying the area and judging whether the rest of the run is in good shape. A pipe that failed once in one spot may fail again two feet away. Repairs to supply piping are done to the Minnesota Plumbing Code, which is Minnesota Rules chapter 4714, and the state sets licensing standards for the people who do the work.
Pipe material, how it fails and how it gets repaired
Each material breaks in its own way. Knowing yours changes the repair.
| Pipe | How it fails | Typical repair |
|---|---|---|
| Copper. | Freeze splits, pinholes, corroded joints. | Cut out the bad section, join new copper with press fittings or solder. |
| PEX. | Freeze bulges, fitting failures, UV damage. | Replace the section with crimp or expansion fittings. |
| Galvanized steel. | Rust from the inside, thin walls, leaking threads. | Replace the run, since patches tend to fail next to the patch. |
| CPVC. | Brittle cracks, failed solvent joints, heat stress. | Cut back to sound pipe and re-glue with new fittings. |
If the pipe is galvanized and old, a repair may only be a stopgap. Our repiping page covers the longer fix.
Frozen pipes and thaw-day bursts
In Minnesota winters, unheated spaces such as exterior walls, garages, crawlspaces and the rim joist can drop below freezing. Water turns to ice and expands, and the pipe splits or the fitting pops.
The odd part is that the leak often shows up after the thaw. Ice plugs the split until it melts, so a pipe can seem fine while frozen and then flood once warm water moves through it. If a faucet stops running in cold weather, shut off the main before you try to thaw anything.
To thaw a pipe, use a hair dryer or warm towels from the faucet end back toward the frozen spot. Do not use an open flame or a torch. Leave the faucet open so melting water can drain. If you cannot find the frozen section or the pipe is already bulged or split, stop and call.
Cracked or broken pipe repair
A crack may be a hairline in copper, a split seam in a plastic pipe, or a broken fitting where two pipes meet. Water at a crack sprays or weeps depending on the pressure and the size of the opening.
Our plumbers cut back to solid pipe on each side, ream and clean the ends and install a coupling or a new length. Press fittings join copper without a flame, which helps near wood framing and insulation. For drain lines, a broken or collapsed section is cut out and replaced, and a drain camera checks the rest of the run.
If the crack sits in a wall or ceiling, a small opening is cut to reach it. We use instruments first when the exact location is unclear, as described on our leak detection page.
Other repair types we get called for
Pipe leak repair covers the smaller cases: a pinhole, a weeping joint or a worn fitting. A copper repair may be a short sleeve or a new length with press fittings. A drain pipe repair replaces a cracked or separated section of waste line, often in cast iron, PVC or ABS.
Supply valves matter too, because a broken shutoff valve under a sink or at the water heater can behave like a burst pipe. Replacing the valve is a short job once the main is off.
If the break is outside or underground
A burst on the line between the street and the house shows up as a flooded yard, a sinkhole, a muddy basement wall or no water at all. The fix is excavation or a trenchless method, covered on our water service line repair page.
Tell us what you see on the surface and where the main valve is. If the loss is on the city's side of the meter, call the City of Minnetonka Public Works utilities office as well. We also cover neighbors such as Hopkins and Wayzata for the same kind of call.
How the repair visit goes
The sequence keeps water off and the damage from spreading.
Stop the flow
We confirm the main is closed, drain the lines and check for any other wet areas or electrical risk.
Find the full extent
We trace the damage along the run. A freeze often splits more than one spot, so we check the pipe on either side.
Cut out and replace
The failed section is removed and new pipe is joined with the right fittings for your material. We then pressure test the repair.
Restore and advise
Water comes back on slowly. You get a clear explanation of what failed and whether drying out or further work is needed.
What drives the cost of a burst pipe repair
No two breaks are alike, and you get a clear price before work starts.
Sudden burst-pipe water damage is often covered by homeowner policies, while slow leaks and wear are usually not. Read your policy, call your insurer and keep the photos you took.
Prevent the next burst
Find your main shutoff before you need it, and test that it turns. Insulate exposed pipes in garages and exterior walls, and keep heat on in unused rooms during cold snaps. Disconnect garden hoses and shut off outdoor spigots in fall.
Ask for the broken pipe to be photographed on removal. It shows your insurer what failed. A permit may apply to larger replacement work, so ask the City of Minnetonka building department.
Check that your plumber holds a licence with the Minnesota DLI Check a License lookup.
Questions about burst pipe repair in Minnetonka
Yes. The 24/7 line is answered around the clock, including nights, weekends and holidays, and same-day appointments are offered when available. Shut the main off first.
Close the main shutoff, open the lowest faucet, kill power to wet rooms and photograph the damage. Then call.
Ice often plugs a split pipe. When it melts, water flows through the crack and the leak appears.
A single break is usually cut out and replaced. If the pipe is old galvanized or splits in several places, repiping may be the better answer.
If it will not hold water or sprays, yes. Close the main, call, and we replace the valve.
With instruments first, such as acoustic listening and a thermal camera, then a small opening. See leak detection.
Sudden burst damage often is, but policies differ. The pipe itself and slow leaks are often not. Read your policy and call your insurer.