When a pipe bursts, shut off your main water valve first. In most Landis homes, it is in the crawl space or at the meter box near the street. On a private well, switch off the well pump breaker. Next, turn off the water heater and stay away from wet outlets. Open a faucet to drain the lines, take photos for insurance, then call a licensed plumber.
Why This Matters
A burst pipe can push out a lot of water in a short time. It soaks into floors, walls, cabinets and the insulation under your home. The longer it runs, the more damage it does, and the bigger the cleanup gets.
The first few minutes matter most. Most of the steps below need no tools and no plumbing skill. You just need to know where your shut-off valve is and what to do next.
Read this guide now, before you need it. Then go find your main shut-off valve and make sure it turns. Show everyone in your home where it is.
Step 1: Shut Off the Water
Your first job is to stop the flow. Every home has a main shut-off valve that controls water to the whole house. Closing it stops the water going to the burst pipe.
Where to Find Your Main Shut-Off in Landis
Many homes here sit over a crawl space, so the valve is often under the house. Look in these spots:
- In the crawl space, near where the water line comes in from the street.
- Near the water heater, in a closet, garage or utility room.
- Under the kitchen sink in some smaller homes.
- In the garage, on a wall facing the street.
- At the meter box in the yard, near the street or sidewalk.
How to Turn It Off
A round wheel valve turns clockwise to close, often several turns. A lever valve turns a quarter turn. When the lever sits across the pipe, it is closed. Some water will keep dripping as the pipes drain, which is normal.
The meter box near the street usually holds the city's meter and a valve. In many cases, that valve belongs to the water provider and may need a special key. If you cannot close your own valve, call the Town of Landis and ask them to shut off service at the meter.
If your inside valve is stuck, do not force it hard enough to break it. An old valve can snap and make the leak worse.
If You Have a Well
Many homes on the roads outside Landis town limits use a private well. On a well system, turn off the breaker for the well pump. Then close the valve near the pressure tank. That stops the pump from pushing more water into the broken pipe.
Step 2: Stay Safe Around Water and Power
Water and electricity do not mix. Before you walk into a wet room, think about where the water is going.
Check for Electrical Risk
Look for water near outlets, power strips, cords, lights or appliances. Water dripping through a ceiling may be running past a light fixture. Water on the floor may reach a lamp or space heater.
- Never stand in water while touching anything electrical.
- Do not plug in or unplug anything while standing in water.
- If water is near the breaker panel, stay away and call the power company.
- If it is safe to reach the panel, turn off power to the wet area.
Turn Off the Water Heater
Once the water is off, the water heater stops refilling. A heater that keeps running while empty can be damaged. For an electric unit, switch off its breaker. For a gas unit, turn the control knob to the pilot or vacation setting.
If you smell gas at any point, leave the house right away. Call the gas company from outside, and do not use light switches on the way out.
Step 3: Drain the Lines and Protect Your Things
With the water off, you want to get the rest of the water out of the pipes. That lowers the pressure and slows any dripping.
Drain the Pipes
- Open the cold tap on the lowest faucet in the house, such as a laundry sink or outdoor spigot.
- Open a faucet on the highest floor to let air into the lines.
- Flush each toilet once to empty its tank.
Move and Protect Your Belongings
Move rugs, electronics, papers and furniture out of the wet area. Put foil or plastic under furniture legs that cannot be moved. That keeps wood stain and rust from marking wet floors.
Soak up standing water with towels, a mop or a wet-dry vacuum. Put a bucket under any drip from the ceiling. If the ceiling sags with water, keep everyone out from under it.
Check the Crawl Space
In a home over a crawl space, water from a burst pipe often ends up under the house. You may not see it from inside. Look with a flashlight from the crawl space door. Wet insulation hanging from the floor and standing water on the vapor barrier are both signs. Do not crawl in if there is water near wiring.
Step 4: Document Everything for Insurance
Before you clean up too much, take photos and video. Your homeowner's insurance company will want to see the damage and the cause.
What to Capture
- The burst or cracked pipe itself, up close.
- Standing water on floors and in the crawl space.
- Wet walls, ceilings, cabinets and flooring.
- Damaged furniture, rugs, electronics and personal items.
- The date and time, which your phone usually records.
Keep receipts for anything you spend on cleanup, fans, towels or hotel stays. Write down when you found the leak and what you did. Call your insurance company soon, and ask what they need from you and your plumber.
Many policies treat a sudden burst differently from a slow leak that went on for months. Ask your agent how your policy handles both.
Start Drying
Water left in walls, floors and insulation can lead to mold within a few days. Open windows if the weather allows. Run fans and a dehumidifier. Pull up wet rugs so the floor underneath can dry. For large leaks, a water damage cleanup company has the drying equipment and can measure moisture inside walls.
Why Pipes Burst in Landis
Pipes burst for a few main reasons. Knowing them helps you prevent the next one.
Freezing on Cold Nights
Landis winters are mostly mild, but the Piedmont still gets hard freezes some nights. When water freezes inside a pipe, it expands. The pressure builds between the ice and a closed faucet until the pipe splits. Often the leak does not show until the ice thaws.
Pipes in crawl spaces, outside walls, garages and attics freeze first. Outdoor spigots and the lines that feed them are at risk too. On a well, the pressure tank and the line from the well can freeze if they sit in an unheated well house or pump shed.
Old and Worn Pipe
Many older homes near Main Street may still have galvanized steel water lines. Galvanized pipe rusts from the inside, and the walls get thinner over time. A weak spot can split under normal water pressure, without any freeze at all.
High Water Pressure and Shifting Ground
Water pressure that is too high puts constant strain on pipes and fittings. The red Piedmont clay under many homes also swells when wet and shrinks when dry. Over years, that movement can stress buried lines and the joints where pipes enter the house.
How to Prevent a Burst Pipe
A little work before winter can save you a lot of trouble.
Before Cold Weather
- Wrap crawl space pipes with foam pipe sleeves.
- Close crawl space vents when freezing weather arrives.
- Disconnect garden hoses from outdoor spigots.
- Shut off and drain outdoor spigots if they have an inside valve.
- Seal gaps where cold air reaches pipes along outside walls.
On the Coldest Nights
- Let a faucet on an outside wall drip slowly.
- Open sink cabinet doors so warm air reaches the pipes.
- Keep the heat on, even if you are away.
- Keep the garage door closed if pipes run through the garage.
All Year
Know where your main shut-off valve is, and test it once a year. Replace old galvanized lines before they fail. If your water pressure seems very high, have a plumber check it.
What a Burst Pipe Repair Costs
The cost of fixing a burst pipe depends on where it is and what it is made of. Here is what affects the price.
| Factor | How it affects the price |
|---|---|
| Where the break is | A pipe in an open crawl space is easier to reach than one inside a wall. |
| Pipe material | Copper, PEX, CPVC and galvanized steel each need different parts and methods. |
| Size of the damage | A small split needs a short repair; a long run of worn pipe may need replacing. |
| More than one break | A hard freeze can split pipes in several places. |
| Access work | Opening and patching drywall or ceilings adds time. |
| Old pipe nearby | Weak galvanized pipe next to the break may also need replacing. |
The plumbing repair is often a small part of the total cost. Water damage to floors, walls and belongings usually costs more. That is why shutting off the water quickly matters so much.
Be careful with a quote that only patches the one split. If the pipe around it is old and rusted, another leak may follow. Ask whether the repair covers the weak pipe nearby.
When to Call a Professional
Some steps are safe for any homeowner. Others need a licensed plumber.
What You Can Do Yourself
- Shut off the main valve and drain the lines.
- Turn off the water heater and power to wet areas.
- Thaw a frozen, unbroken pipe gently with a hair dryer, faucet open.
- Dry the area and document the damage.
Where DIY Should Stop
- Do not cut, solder or glue pipe unless you have done it before.
- Never thaw a pipe with an open flame or torch.
- Do not turn the water back on until the pipe is repaired.
- Stay away from wet outlets, cords and a wet breaker panel.
If a frozen pipe is inside a wall, or you cannot find the frozen spot, call a plumber. The same goes for any leak you cannot stop at a valve.
For help with a broken line, see our pipe repair in Landis page. For urgent leaks and backups, see emergency plumbing in Landis. If you live farther north, we also work as a plumber in Salisbury.
Need a Plumber in Landis? Shield Plumbing Is Ready to Help
Shield Plumbing is a licensed plumber based in Landis. We repair burst and frozen pipes for homes in Landis, China Grove, Kannapolis, Concord and Salisbury, and we explain the problem before any work starts.
Call (980) 980-9219 or contact us to schedule a repair.