Burst pipe: what to do first
A burst pipe is an emergency at any hour, and Los Gatos Express Plumbing runs 24/7 dispatch for Los Gatos and nearby towns. The next ten minutes decide how much drywall, flooring and insulation gets wet, so start with the water.
- Find the main shutoff, usually a gate valve or lever handle near the front hose bib or at the garage wall, and turn it clockwise until it stops.
- Open the lowest faucet in the house and one upstairs tap to drain the pressure still in the lines.
- Switch off power to any room with standing water or a wet ceiling, using the breaker panel and not the wall switch.
- Move rugs and electronics out, take photos of the damage for your insurer, then call (855) 575-2890.
If the shutoff handle will not turn, do not force it with a pipe wrench. A seized valve is a repair job of its own, and we can tell you what to try while a plumber heads your way.
How a split pipe happens in Los Gatos homes
A burst is rarely a surprise to the pipe. Copper wears thin at elbows where fast water scours the inside. Old galvanized steel rusts from the inside out until a section lets go. Hard freezes are rare here, so most breaks come from corrosion, a failed solder joint or a fitting knocked loose during other work.
Water hardness is one thing that varies. San Jose Water's 2025 report lists mountain supply at 151 ppm, Valley Water treated supply at 99 ppm and groundwater at 288 ppm, and which source reaches your street is not something we can state. Harder water leaves more scale inside pipes and aerators, so if your fixtures clog with white crust, tell the plumber. It shapes how long old lines are likely to last.
A burst line high on the Highway 17 grade or near Lexington Reservoir often comes with narrow, winding access, so give the dispatcher your gate, driveway and cross street. Santa Clara County is the whole dispatch area, and calls from ZIP codes 95030, 95031, 95032 and 95033 reach the same 24/7 number.
Water is still running and you cannot find the break? Call and a dispatcher will talk you through the main shutoff.
Call (855) 575-2890Burst or leaking? What you can see and hear
Some breaks announce themselves with a spray. Others show up as a ceiling stain that grows, a damp spot on baseboard, a hissing from inside a wall or a water meter dial that keeps moving after every tap is closed.
Check before you call
- Watch the meter in its box by the street. Spinning with every fixture off means water is escaping somewhere.
- Press a hand on suspect drywall. Cool and soft means the leak is behind it.
- Listen at the water heater closet and under sinks for hissing.
- Look at the garage ceiling and crawlspace vents for drips or dark insulation.
If the meter is quiet and the stain is not growing, the water may be from a slow drain or roof problem. Call anyway if you are unsure, and we will help sort it out.
How the break is found and fixed
We start by shutting off and testing the lines so the plumber is working on a dry pipe. For a visible break, the plumber cuts out the damaged section and sweats in new copper or joins PEX with crimp rings. For a hidden one, an acoustic listening device and a pressure gauge narrow the location before drywall is cut. The goal is the smallest opening that lets the repair be done right.
After the repair we restore pressure slowly and check every joint for weeping. San Jose Water advises running a tap 30 seconds to 2 minutes when water has sat for hours, and that is a good habit after any repair, since the first flow carries debris. Clean the faucet aerators once the lines have run clear.
Repair one section or replace the run?
The right call depends on pipe material and how many weak spots there are. This is how we usually weigh it.
| Situation | Usual approach | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| One split in otherwise sound copper | Cut out and replace a short section | Fast and low disruption, but nearby pipe is the same age |
| Several pinholes in one copper run | Replace the whole run with new copper or PEX | More wall access now, fewer repeat calls later |
| Galvanized steel that bursts | Replace the section and discuss repiping | Repair holds only until the next rusted joint gives out |
| Broken fitting or shutoff valve | Replace the valve or fitting only | Cheap to fix, and a good time to add a working shutoff |
| Break on the line from the meter to the house | Repair or replace that buried line | Needs excavation, see service line repair |
Pipe type and age are checked on site before any recommendation is made.
Copper, PEX or galvanized after the break
Copper lasts when the water chemistry is kind to it and costs more in materials. PEX bends around corners with fewer joints and is quicker to run through finished walls. Either is a sound choice in a repair. We will explain what is already in your walls and what is practical to match.
If your house has galvanized steel, one burst is often a warning. Where lines are failing throughout, a planned repiping job usually costs less in the long run than a series of wall openings. If the water is coming from a heater tank or its fittings rather than a pipe, water heater replacement may be the real fix.
Permits and the Town building division
A like-for-like section repair is usually small work, but anything larger, such as replacing a long run or rerouting lines, can need a permit. Permit rules vary, so check with the Town of Los Gatos building division before work starts. The Town takes building permit applications only through its online portal, and you should ask who files the permit and whose name goes on it. Ask your plumber to tell you plainly whether your job needs one.
What changes the price of a burst pipe repair
We give a clear price before work starts, and these are the things that move it.
Where the break is
A pipe in an open garage wall is quick. One behind tile or inside a finished ceiling needs access and patching.
Pipe material
Copper, PEX and galvanized each take different parts, tools and labor.
Length of the damaged run
One section is a short job. A whole run through several rooms is a larger one.
After-hours dispatch
Night and weekend calls involve a different schedule than a daytime visit.
Water cleanup
Drying, drywall and flooring repair are separate trades and often separate from the plumbing price.
On insurance, a sudden burst is often covered, while wear, corrosion and slow leaks often are not. Policies differ, so check yours and report the loss promptly.
Want your real number? Call (855) 575-2890. A clear price is given before work starts.
After the repair, and a nearby town note
Once the lines are tight, watch the meter for an hour with everything off and check the repair spot the next morning. If you live toward Campbell, see our Campbell plumbing coverage for how dispatch works there. If a stain returns later, slab leak repair is worth asking about when the damp spot is on a ground floor.
Burst pipe questions from Los Gatos homeowners
Yes. Our dispatch runs 24/7 and same-day appointments are offered when available. We do not promise an arrival time, but we will tell you what to do while a plumber is on the way.
Common spots are near the front hose bib, in the garage wall by the water heater, or in the meter box at the curb. The house valve is on your side of the meter. Turn it clockwise until it stops.
A push-fit coupling or clamp can slow a leak for a short time. It is a stopgap, and the section should be replaced properly. Shut off the water first and call for the repair.
Sudden discharge is often covered. Corrosion and slow leaks often are not. Read your policy or ask your agent before the repair, and keep photos.
Sometimes. We try to locate the break first so the opening is small. A hidden pinhole may start with a leak search before any cutting.