Quick answer
If a pipe bursts, shut off your main water valve first, then turn off power to any wet area, open your lowest taps to drain the lines, and move valuables away from the water. Take photos for insurance and call a licensed plumber. In King City and nearby, Ontario Pacific Plumbing aims to arrive within 60 minutes: (249) 523-3314.
A burst pipe can release hundreds of litres of water in the time it takes to find the problem. The first ten minutes decide how much of your basement, drywall and flooring you lose. This checklist is written for homes in King City, Nobleton, Schomberg and the rest of York Region, including rural houses on private wells.
What should I do in the first 10 minutes after a pipe bursts?
- Shut off the main water valve (minute 1). In most York Region homes it is in the basement, on the front wall where the water line comes in, beside the water meter. Turn a round handle clockwise until it stops, or turn a lever handle so it sits across the pipe.
- On a well? Turn off the well pump (minute 2). Switch off the pump’s breaker or the switch near the pressure tank, then close the valve after the tank. Otherwise the pump keeps refilling the broken line.
- Make the area electrically safe (minute 3). If water is near outlets, appliances or your electrical panel, do not walk through standing water. Only switch off breakers if you can reach the panel while standing somewhere dry. If you cannot, stay out and call your hydro utility.
- Drain the lines (minutes 4 to 5). Open the cold taps at the lowest point in the house, usually a laundry tub or basement sink, then the taps upstairs. Flush toilets once. This empties the water still sitting in the pipes so less of it comes out of the break.
- Deal with the water heater (minute 6). If you expect to be without water for more than a short while, set a gas water heater to “pilot” or “vacation” and switch off the breaker for an electric one.
- Protect your belongings (minutes 7 to 8). Lift boxes, rugs and electronics off the floor. Put buckets under drips and soak up what you can with towels.
- Document everything (minute 9). Take photos and video of the burst pipe, the water and anything damaged before you clean up. Your insurer will ask for them.
- Call a plumber (minute 10). Tell them where the leak is, whether the main is off, and whether water reached anything electrical. That helps them bring the right parts the first time.
When to call a plumber right away
- You cannot find or close the main shut-off valve.
- Water is near your electrical panel, furnace or water heater.
- The break is inside a wall or ceiling, or you cannot see where the water is coming from.
- More than one pipe has frozen or burst, or the house has been unheated.
- You are on a well and the pump or pressure tank is involved.
Ontario Pacific Plumbing is open 24/7 for homes in King City and nearby: (249) 523-3314. See our emergency plumbing service.
Where is the main water shut-off valve in my house?
In most houses in Vaughan, Richmond Hill, Newmarket and King City on municipal water, the main valve is in the basement on the wall facing the street, right where the water line comes through the foundation, near the water meter. In newer homes it may sit behind a small access panel in a finished basement or utility room.
In rural King Township homes on a private well, there is no municipal meter. Look beside the pressure tank, where the line from the well enters the house. There is usually a valve on each side of the tank. Close the one on the house side and switch off the pump.
Do this today
- Find your main shut-off valve and make sure it turns.
- Tag it so everyone in the house knows where it is.
- If it is stiff or leaking, have it replaced during a normal visit, not in the middle of an emergency.
How do I know a pipe has burst if I cannot see it?
- Water stains or bubbling paint on ceilings and walls, often below a bathroom or along an outside wall.
- The sound of running water when every tap is off.
- Low water pressure throughout the house, or no water at all.
- A water meter that keeps moving when nothing is running.
- Wet spots on the basement floor or a damp smell near the foundation.
If you have had a cold snap, also check any pipes that might have frozen. A pipe that splits while frozen often does not leak until it thaws. Our guide on what to do when pipes freeze covers how to thaw them safely.
Water coming through a ceiling or wall right now? Shut off the main, then call. We aim to be there within 60 minutes in King City and nearby.
Call (249) 523-3314Why do pipes burst in York Region homes?
Most burst pipes we see in King City and the surrounding area happen in January and February. A typical case: a supply line runs along an exterior wall, through a garage, or in a crawl space with little insulation. During a deep cold snap the water inside freezes and expands, pressure builds between the ice and a closed tap, and the pipe splits. Once the weather warms up, the ice melts and the water pours out.
Older farmhouses and additions in King Township, cottages and homes left empty over a holiday are especially exposed. Other common causes are corroded pipes, failed fittings, high water pressure and washing machine hoses that give out. If you want to prevent the freeze in the first place, see how to stop pipes freezing in King City and Nobleton homes.
Can I fix a burst pipe myself?
You can slow a small leak for a few hours with a pipe repair clamp, or a strip of rubber held tight with hose clamps. Treat that as a temporary patch only. The pipe around the break is often weakened, and if it froze, there may be other cracks you cannot see yet. A plumber will cut out the damaged section, replace it, check the rest of the run, and then turn the water back on slowly while watching for new leaks.
Safety note
Never use an open flame or a heat gun to thaw or dry pipes. It is a common cause of house fires and can damage plastic pipes and fittings.
What happens after the plumber arrives?
At Ontario Pacific Plumbing we confirm the water is off, find the break and any other damage, explain what we found and the options, and you decide before any work starts. Once the repair is done we restore water pressure gradually, test the repaired section and check the water heater. We can also tell you what led to the break, so you can stop it happening again. Learn more about our frozen and burst pipe repair service or read about our work as a plumber in King City.
Frequently asked questions
Should I turn off the water heater if a pipe bursts?
Yes, if the water will be off for more than a short time. Set a gas water heater to “pilot” or “vacation” and switch off the breaker for an electric one. This protects the heater while it is not being refilled.
Does home insurance cover a burst pipe?
Many Ontario home insurance policies cover sudden and accidental water damage from a burst pipe, but coverage varies. Damage from freezing in a home that was left unheated without precautions may be excluded. Check your policy, take photos before you clean up and call your insurer early.
Can I use water after I shut off the main valve?
No. With the main closed, the only water left is what is still in the pipes and the water heater. Avoid running taps or flushing until a plumber has repaired the pipe and turned the water back on.
How fast can a plumber get to me in King City?
For plumbing emergencies in King City and nearby communities, Ontario Pacific Plumbing aims to be at your door within 60 minutes of your call. Call (249) 523-3314 so we can confirm the arrival time.
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Water where it shouldn't be?
Call a licensed plumber now. In King City and nearby we aim to be at your door within 60 minutes.
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