Signs you need help now
- Sudden drop in domestic water pressure accompanied by sounds of rushing water behind walls
- Water raining through second-story light fixtures, exhaust fans, or ceiling sheetrock joints
- Rapidly expanding circular brown water stains across finished ceiling drywall
- Standing water flooding across kitchen, bathroom, or utility room flooring
- Frozen exterior spigot or uninsulated crawl space pipe thawing out and spraying pressurized water
Do this while you call
- Immediately shut off the property main water shutoff valve, typically located in the basement, utility closet, or near the meter.
- Turn off electrical power to affected areas at the breaker box only if you can safely reach it without stepping in water.
- Clear valuables, furnishings, and electronics from underneath sagging ceiling drywall to prevent collapse injuries.
- Contact a professional plumber to repair the broken plumbing pipe, and call this line for emergency water damage mitigation.
If anyone is in danger, there is fire, or you smell gas, leave the building and call 911 first.
What an independent provider typically does
- Emergency extraction units pull pooled water from carpets, subflooring, and hard surfaces throughout the property.
- Thermal imaging scans and moisture meters trace vertical water routes down through wall cavities and floor assemblies.
- Relief weep holes are drilled in baseboard areas or ceiling cavities to drain trapped plumbing reservoirs.
- Saturated drywall, wet ceiling insulation, and unsalvageable flooring materials are carefully removed.
- Commercial dehumidification and high-velocity air movers run until framing lumber reaches safe dry baselines.
Exact steps depend on the provider and your situation. Confirm availability, service scope and pricing with them directly.
What is not included
This service addresses the water damage aftermath resulting from a burst pipe. The mechanical plumbing repair to fix or replace the copper, PEX, or PVC pipe itself is performed by an independent trade plumber.
Commerce City notes
Front Range winters bring sudden Arctic cold fronts to Adams County, with temperatures dropping below zero within hours. Uninsulated supply lines located inside exterior walls, cantilevered room extensions, garages, and unheated crawl spaces are highly vulnerable to freezing and splitting across Commerce City homes in Reunion, Derby, and Rose Hill.
Frequently, the split pipe remains frozen solid until outdoor temperatures moderate, at which point the ice plug thaws and pressurized water floods the home while occupants are away or asleep.
Because burst pipe events are sudden and accidental, they are commonly covered under standard homeowners insurance policies. Independent local restoration providers document moisture migration thoroughly to assist with insurance claim requirements.
Not sure what your policy covers? Read our water damage insurance guide, and check coverage areas on the service areas page.
Questions about burst pipe water damage
Is water damage from a burst pipe covered by homeowners insurance?
Standard homeowners insurance policies typically cover sudden and accidental pipe bursts, though terms, deductibles, and exclusions vary. Review policy provisions directly with your insurer.
Can water extraction begin before the plumber fixes the broken pipe?
Yes. Once the main water valve is turned off and the flow stops, emergency extraction and moisture mapping can begin immediately while a plumber prepares the pipe repair.
How do technicians find water hidden behind walls?
Restoration providers use thermal imaging cameras to detect evaporative cooling patterns behind drywall, paired with non-invasive radio frequency moisture meters to verify wet framing.
Who establishes repair scope and pricing?
The independent restoration provider inspects the property, determines equipment needs, and reviews the scope with you directly before starting work.
Public sources and guidance
- CDC: Reentering Your Flooded Home (opens in a new tab) - electrical and structural safety after indoor flooding
- Colorado Division of Insurance: What Homeowners Insurance Does Not Cover (opens in a new tab) - flood exclusions and coverage limits