Water is pouring from a pipe right now
This is urgent, and our dispatch line at (732) 466-1098 is open 24/7. While you wait for a plumber, stop the water at the source. Find the main shutoff, usually where the line enters the house near the meter or in the basement, and turn it clockwise until it stops.
Then open a faucet on the lowest floor to drain what is left in the pipes. If the ceiling is bulging or dripping near light fixtures, stay out of that room and switch off the breaker for it.
- Never step into standing water if outlets, cords or appliances are in it. Cut power at the panel only if you can reach it dry.
- If you smell gas, leave the building and call the gas utility or 911 before anything else.
- Photograph the damage before you clean up. Your insurer will ask for it.
Burst, cracked or frozen: telling them apart
According to New Jersey American Water, the company maintains the service line from the main to the curb stop, and the customer maintains the pipe from there to the building. That describes New Jersey American Water service areas only, so check your own utility before assuming who owns a failed section.
| What you see | Likely cause | First move |
|---|---|---|
| Spray or steady stream from a pipe run | Split along the pipe or a failed joint | Main valve off, call |
| Pinhole drip that darkens one patch of wall | Corrosion pit or small crack | Main valve off if it is growing |
| No water at one tap in cold weather, pipe feels icy | Frozen but not yet split | Thaw gently, keep the tap open |
| Water appears after a freeze ends and the line warms | Pipe split while frozen, leak shows on thaw | Main valve off, call |
| Gushing at a valve or flexible connector | Failed valve body, nut or braided line | Close the nearest stop valve or main |
Many freeze splits stay hidden until the ice melts. That is why a quiet pipe on a cold morning can turn into a flood by afternoon.
Source: New Jersey American Water, Customer Rights and Responsibilities, amwater.com/njaw/customer-service-billing/rights-responsibilities
Water still running? Call now and keep the main valve closed until the plumber says otherwise.
(732) 466-1098Frozen pipes: thaw slowly and never with a flame
- Keep the tap openLeave the affected faucet open so melting water has somewhere to go and pressure does not build behind the ice.
- Warm the area, not the pipeA hair dryer on low or a space heater placed a safe distance away works. A torch or open flame can ignite framing and split the pipe.
- Work toward the blockageStart near the tap and move back along the pipe. Check for drips or wet spots as the ice clears.
- Stop and call if water appearsA leak on thaw means the pipe has already split. Close the main valve and call for a repair.
Pipes on outside walls, in crawlspaces and in unheated garages freeze first. Insulating them and letting a tap drip on a hard-freeze night is cheap protection.
Why pipes split in Middlesex County homes
We do not have a sourced water report for New Brunswick, so ask your water utility for its latest annual water quality report and read the pH line. Next door, the North Brunswick report lists a pH of 6.41, a little below the 6.5 to 8.5 range it cites. Slightly acidic water can eat at older copper and galvanized steel over decades.
Corrosion thins pipe walls from the inside, and the thin spot gives out under pressure or a hard freeze. If your plumber finds pitting in one run, the same wear is likely in the rest of that line. That is the point to ask about repiping instead of patching one split at a time.
If you live in North Brunswick, our page for plumbing help in North Brunswick covers that service area.
Source: North Brunswick Township 2022 water quality report
Burst supply valves, connectors and the lines under sinks
Shutoff valves
Old multi-turn valves can crack at the stem or spray from the packing nut when turned. If a valve will not close, use the main.
Braided supply lines
The hose under a sink or behind a toilet can burst at the crimp. These are among the quickest floods because they run at full line pressure.
Rigid pipe joints
Soldered and threaded joints loosen with age and movement. A drip at a joint can become a spray without warning.
What the repair usually involves
Most bursts need the water off, the damaged section cut out, and new pipe joined in. Where the line is old and failing in several places, a longer replacement is common. Where the break is buried or in a wall, the plumber may open drywall to reach it.
If the failure is on the line between the street and the house, that is a different job, covered under water line repair. We tell you which situation you have before we start work.
What sets the price of a burst pipe repair
Homeowners policies often cover sudden pipe failure but not wear or long-term corrosion, so ask your insurer before you assume either way.
We give a clear price before work starts. For a real number on your situation, call (732) 466-1098 and describe what you see.
After the water stops: photos, drying and your insurer
Take wide and close photos of the burst pipe, the wet walls and any damaged belongings before cleanup. Keep the failed section if the plumber removes it, since an insurer may want to see it.
Drying matters as much as the repair. Wet drywall and insulation can grow mold within days, so ask your insurer or a water restoration company about extraction and drying. Run fans and open windows in the meantime if the weather allows.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Dispatch runs 24/7, and we offer same-day appointments when available, including overnight and weekend calls. Tell the dispatcher where the water is coming from and whether you have reached the main valve.
While you wait, keep the main closed and stay clear of wet electrical items.
A burst pipe sprays or pours and leaves a puddle that grows while you watch. A leak is usually a slow drip or a damp patch. Either can worsen, so close the main if the wet spot is spreading.
It is typically where the water line enters the building, often near the meter in a basement or utility room. Turn the handle clockwise. If it will not move, do not force it with a tool that could snap the valve. Tell us when you call.
Gentle heat from a hair dryer is the safer route. Never use a torch or open flame. If water appears while it thaws, the pipe has split, so close the main and call.
Homeowners policies often cover sudden pipe failure but not wear or corrosion. Coverage varies, so ask your insurer. Photos taken before cleanup help any claim.
Yes. We state a clear price before work starts, after the plumber has seen the break. For a rough idea over the phone, call and describe the pipe and its location.
That depends on what the plumber finds. A single split in good pipe is often a patch. Widespread pitting or several failures can make leak detection or a longer replacement worth discussing.