Emergency Guide

The First 24 Hours After a Pipe Bursts

Minute One: Shut Off the Water

Every homeowner should know where their main water shut-off valve is before an emergency happens, usually near the street-facing side of the house or in a garage or utility area. Turning it off stops the flooding at the source and is the single most important action in the first few minutes.

Minute Five: Cut Power to Affected Areas

If water is near any electrical outlets, switches, or fixtures, shut off power to that section of the house at the breaker panel. Never step into standing water to reach a switch, if the breaker panel isn't safely accessible, wait for a professional rather than risk electrical shock.

The First Hour: Document Before You Touch Anything

Photograph and, if possible, video the damage before moving furniture or starting cleanup. This single step protects an insurance claim more than almost anything else a homeowner can do. Note the time you discovered the damage, this timeline matters for both the claim and the restoration company's Category classification of the water.

Hours One to Six: Remove What You Safely Can

Move furniture, rugs, and valuables out of standing water if it's safe to do so. Prop up furniture legs on foil or blocks to prevent staining and further wicking. Don't use a household shop-vac on anything beyond a small clean-water spill, Category 2 or 3 water requires professional extraction equipment and PPE.

Hours Six to 24: Air Movement and Professional Extraction

Once a technician arrives, expect industrial water extraction followed by placement of air movers and dehumidifiers. Open interior doors (but not windows, in most cases) to help the drying equipment work evenly across the space. This is also when moisture mapping happens, to confirm the water hasn't traveled further than what's visible.

What NOT to Do

• Don't use a regular household vacuum on standing water, electrical shock risk.
• Don't turn on ceiling fixtures below a wet ceiling, water may have reached the wiring.
• Don't throw away damaged materials before photographing them for the claim.
• Don't wait until morning if the leak happens overnight, mold risk starts within 24-48 hours.

If This Happens in a Sherman Oaks Hillside Home

In hillside neighborhoods like Longridge Estates and Royal Woods, a burst pipe near a retaining wall or slope can also affect drainage systems designed to manage hillside runoff. If your home is on a slope, mention this when you call so the technician can check for related drainage issues while on-site.