When a burst pipe is an emergency
Spraying water, a ceiling that sags, or water pouring from a wall is an emergency. So is any break you cannot stop. Even a steady drip from a split pipe can soak insulation and subfloor quickly, and our same-day and after-hours service exists for exactly this.
Close the main shutoff
Turn the valve where the water line enters the house clockwise. If it is stuck or leaks around the handle, say so when you call.
Drain the lines
Open the lowest faucet in the house, and a high one, to let remaining water out and ease pressure on the break.
Switch off the power
Cut the breaker for any room where water is near outlets, appliances or light fixtures. Stay out of standing water.
Turn off the water heater
With the supply closed, the heater should not run dry. Switch a gas unit to pilot or off, and cut the breaker on an electric one.
Photograph and move valuables
Capture the damage before cleanup, then lift rugs, electronics and paper above the wet area.
Frozen pipes: thaw safely or wait for us
Salt Lake City airport normals for 1991 to 2020 show about 112 days a year with a low at or below 32F, and a January normal low of 24.2F. Riverton runs a bit differently, but the pattern is the same: pipes in garages, outside walls and crawl areas are at risk from late fall through March.
Ice often swells a pipe and splits it without leaking, so the water only appears when the ice melts. That is why a thawing line can suddenly flood a room. If you can reach a frozen section, treat it as a possible break and keep the main valve within reach.
Safe while you wait
- Open the faucet fed by the frozen line so melting water has an exit
- Warm the room or aim a hair dryer on low at the pipe
- Wrap the pipe with warm, damp towels
- Check every faucet for a trickle or no flow
Never do this
- Use a torch, lighter or any open flame
- Keep heating a pipe that is bulging or already leaking
- Thaw a line near gas piping
- Ignore a trickle that turns to a drip behind a wall
Riverton's city code says the owner keeps service pipes in good repair and frost-protected at their own expense. In practice that means insulating exposed lines and keeping garage and outer-wall plumbing from freezing.
Why pipes crack, split or pinhole
Freeze splits
A long vertical split in a copper or PEX run, usually in an unheated wall or crawl area.
Pinholes in copper
Tiny spray from a spot in an aging line. It tends to repeat, so one hole often means more to come.
Cracked drain pipe
A crushed or cracked PVC drain pipe leaks when you use the sink or tub, and the water shows up below.
Joint and fitting failures
Soldered, crimped or glued connections can separate from vibration, movement or poor installation.
Pressure surges
A hammering line is a warning. Repeated spikes can fatigue weak pipe or loose fittings over time.
Riverton's 2022 water quality report lists average hardness around 190 mg/L, about 11 grains per gallon. Harder water leaves scale on the inside of fixtures, so ask us to look at the interior of any pipe we cut out. What we see tells you whether this was a one-off or a sign of aging lines.
How we repair a burst or cracked pipe
We start by finding the full extent of the damage, because a visible split can hide a longer crack. Then we cut back to sound pipe, which is the part many quick fixes skip.
| Option | Best when | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Cut out and replace a short section | One clean split in otherwise healthy pipe | Quick and neat, but does not help if the rest of the pipe is worn |
| Replace a longer run | A freeze split or a pipe with several weak spots | More materials and wall access, but fewer repeat calls |
| Repair a drain pipe | A crack or separated joint in PVC or cast drain line | Needs access to the pipe, and sewer-side work may trigger other steps |
| Temporary clamp or coupling | A short-term stop while parts and access are arranged | Not a lasting repair, and we tell you when it is only a stopgap |
| Partial repipe | Repeated pinholes or failing joints in one area | Costs more now, but replaces the section that keeps failing |
Copper pipe repair
Copper repairs are soldered or made with push or press fittings once the line is dry. We dry the pipe, clean the ends, make the joint and pressure test it. If a pinhole shows up near an older repair, we talk about replacing a longer run so you are not chasing the next hole.
Drain pipe repair
A cracked drain pipe leaks only when it carries water, so the damage often shows after a shower or laundry load. We confirm the crack with a camera or a test run, then replace the damaged segment. Wider sewer concerns go to our sewer line repair team.
Water still running?
Close the main shutoff, then call the 24/7 line. If the valve will not turn or the water will not stop, tell us right away so we know what to bring.
Things to do while the plumber is on the way
Clear a path
Move boxes and stored items away from the main valve, the water heater and the wet area.
Mop up what you safely can
Towels and a wet vac help, but never use a standard vacuum on standing water.
Document for the claim
Take wide and close photos, note the time you found it, and keep any damaged section of pipe if we remove it.
Know your shutoffs
Tell us whether the main valve closes fully and whether a fixture shutoff is leaking. It affects our plan.
Homeowners policies often cover sudden burst-pipe damage but usually not slow leaks or wear, so call your insurer after the water is stopped. They may ask for photos, a written description of the repair and your plumber's findings, and we provide ours when you request them.
When the break is hidden or on the water line
If the meter keeps moving after the house shutoff is closed, the break is likely on the buried line, which belongs to the owner from the meter to the home. The city owns the line up to and including the meter. For a leak you cannot trace to a visible pipe, our leak detection service finds the spot before we dig.
The city says most spraying water calls turn out to be broken sprinkler lines, which you can stop at your property's ball valve. If water is erupting at the street side of the meter, call the city's after-hours water line. We handle everything from the meter to your home.
What a burst pipe repair costs
Pipe material and size
Copper, PEX and PVC each need their own fittings and methods.
Length of the damaged run
A short split costs less than a freeze break that ran through a wall.
Access
Open framing is simple. Pipe behind finished drywall or tile requires opening and patching.
Time of day
Night and weekend dispatch may differ from a daytime visit.
Related damage
Wet drywall, flooring and insulation are separate from the pipe repair, and often come with a restoration company or your insurer.
Insurance often covers sudden damage but not slow leaks or wear, so confirm with your insurer. Call the 24/7 line for a real number, and we will explain the clear price before work starts.
Burst pipe questions
Yes. The 24/7 emergency line is answered around the clock, and we dispatch from Riverton as well as to neighboring cities like Herriman. Close the main valve before you call if you can.
Close the main shutoff, open a low faucet to drain the lines, and shut off power to wet areas. Then call. Everything else can wait until the water has stopped.
Yes, a little. Ice can split a pipe without any water showing until it thaws. Keep the main valve ready and open the nearest faucet, then watch for dripping as it warms.
A plumber can check the pipe before you turn the water back on if you are unsure.
No. Open flame can ignite framing and damage the pipe. Warm air from a hair dryer on low or warm, damp towels is safer. Stop if you see a bulge or water.
Pinholes usually mean the pipe wall is thinning from the inside. We look at the cut pipe, and if the problem is spreading, a longer replacement or a repipe may save repeat repairs.
Usually, yes. We confirm the crack with a camera or a water test and replace the damaged piece. Access depends on whether the pipe is exposed, buried or inside a wall.
Many homeowners policies cover sudden burst-pipe damage but not slow leaks or wear. Read your policy, call your insurer after the water is off, and keep photos and our written description.
A quick clamp can slow a leak in a pinch, but it should not be left as the repair. Soldering and pressure testing need training, and a poor joint can fail again behind a wall.