Supply lines are under pressure all the time, so when one fails, water keeps coming until someone shuts it off. Leaks behind walls or under floors can run for days before a stain or soft floor gives them away.
The first ten minutes
- Close the main water shutoff. It's usually where the line enters the house or near the meter. Find yours before you need it.
- Open a faucet at the lowest point to drain the lines.
- Turn off power to wet areas if you can do it from a dry spot.
- Photograph the failed part and the damage.
- Call a plumber to fix the pipe and a restoration provider to dry the house. They're usually different companies.
Common culprits
- Old rubber washing machine and dishwasher hoses
- Water heater tanks and their connections
- Toilet and faucet supply lines under sinks
- Ice maker lines behind refrigerators
- Pipes in uninsulated crawlspaces and garages on the coldest nights
How the drying works
Water from a supply line starts out clean, but it doesn't stay that way once it soaks into building materials and sits. That's why speed matters. A provider will map moisture, pull baseboards if needed, and dry with air movers and dehumidifiers. Read more in the water damage drying process.
Want a local pro to take a look?It's free for homeowners and there's no obligation.
Insurance
Sudden, accidental leaks are commonly covered, subject to your policy and deductible. Slow leaks that went on for a long time often aren't. Keep the failed part and the plumber's invoice.
Where we connect homeowners
- Water damage in Santa Rosa
- Water damage in Petaluma
- Water damage in Rohnert Park & Cotati
- Water damage in Windsor
- Water damage in Healdsburg
- Water damage in Sebastopol
- Water damage in Sonoma
- Water damage in Glen Ellen & Kenwood
- Water damage in Cloverdale
- Water damage in Guerneville & the lower Russian River
- Water damage in Forestville
Other services
- Water damage restoration
- Emergency water removal
- Flood cleanup
- Sewage backup cleanup
- Storm damage restoration
Frequently asked questions
Should I call a plumber or a restoration company first?
Shut off the water first. Then call both: the plumber fixes the pipe and the restoration provider dries the house.
Can I just run fans?
Fans help with a tiny spill. For anything that soaked into walls, floors or cabinets, moisture meters and dehumidifiers are needed to confirm it's actually dry.