A burst pipe turns a normal day into a flood within minutes. Supply lines carry water under pressure, so a split pipe can release gallons every minute until someone closes a valve. The first ten minutes matter more than anything we do afterward, and most of what you can do yourself is about stopping the water and limiting the damage.
We repair burst pipes at any hour in East Orange. If water is running now, close the main valve, then call (973) 488-5410 and tell us what you see. A technician will ask a few questions about the pipe and the building so the right parts and tools come with us.
Shut It Off: The First Ten Minutes
Speed beats everything else. Do these in order, and call us as soon as the water has stopped or you cannot stop it.
Close the main shutoff
Turn the valve where the water line enters the building clockwise until it stops. In an apartment building, close the unit valve if it has one and alert the manager to close the riser.
Turn off power to wet areas
If water is touching outlets, appliances or a panel, cut that circuit at the breaker only from a dry spot. If the panel itself is wet, stay away and call us and the utility.
Open the lowest faucet
Open a tap at the lowest point and a cold tap upstairs to drain what remains in the pipes. This reduces how much water is still left to spill.
Start moving belongings
Lift furniture, papers and electronics out of the water. Take photos before and after for your landlord or insurer.
Frozen Pipes: Why Winter Bursts Happen Here
Water expands as it freezes, and a pipe that is full of ice can split along its length. The pipe often does not leak until the ice melts, which is why a burst is found after the weather warms up. Newark's 30 year climate normals record 79.9 days a year at or below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, and a January mean low of 25.5 degrees.
Frost depth in northern New Jersey is 36 inches, so any line buried shallower than that is exposed, and lines in unheated spaces, exterior walls, garages and crawlspaces are exposed too. In the February 2015 deep freeze, water mains snapped in Newark and other parts of the region. The city's own water FAQ says main breaks come from bad weather and sharp changes in temperature.
If a pipe is frozen but has not burst yet, open the faucet it feeds, and warm the area with a hair dryer or a space heater kept well away from anything that burns. Never use an open flame. If you see a crack, a bulge or water, close the main and call us.
Water Damage: The First Steps
Once the water is off, the clock shifts to drying. Wet drywall, insulation and carpet padding can start growing mold within a couple of days, so remove standing water and open windows or run fans where it is safe. Throw away soaked insulation and padding, and do not use electric appliances on a wet floor.
Water that came from a clean supply line is a different problem from sewage or storm water, and we will tell you if what you have is not clean supply water. Our job is the pipe. A restoration company handles drying and rebuilding, and we coordinate with them so the repair is done before they close up the wall.
How We Repair A Burst Pipe
The repair depends on what the pipe is made of and how long it has been in service. We look at the break, the condition of the pipe on either side and whether the same failure is likely to happen again.
| Pipe or part | Typical failure | Repair approach |
|---|---|---|
| Copper | Freeze splits, pinholes, failed solder joints. | Cut out the damaged length, sweat in a new section and fittings, and check the neighboring pipe. |
| Galvanized steel | Corrosion from the inside, threaded joints that crack. | Replace the failed section, but old galvanized often fails again nearby, so we discuss repiping. |
| PEX | Freeze damage, bent or kinked tubing, fitting failures. | Cut out the damaged piece and reconnect with approved fittings. |
| Supply valves and stops. | Stuck handles, cracked bodies, packing leaks. | Replace the valve so the next shutoff works. |
A burst pipe often shows how old the plumbing is. When we open a wall and find several pipes in similar condition, we say so and give you the options. Sometimes the right call is to repair this one pipe and leave the rest alone. Other times a larger replacement is cheaper than three emergency calls over a winter.
Supply Valve Failures That Cause Floods
Not every flood is a split pipe. Old angle stops under sinks and toilets, washing machine valves and shutoff valves in basements can crack or seize. A valve that has not been turned in years often will not close fully when you need it, which turns a simple repair into a flood.
We replace failed valves with new ones and test every shutoff on the line so you know the next emergency can be stopped quickly. If you cannot get a valve to close, shut off the building main and call.
Landlords, Tenants And Who To Call
In a multifamily building, a burst pipe affects more than one unit. Tenants should call the landlord or building manager first, because the manager may be able to close a riser valve from a basement or utility room. Tenants should also keep a written record with photos and the time the leak started.
If the pipe is inside your unit and you cannot reach the manager, close your unit shutoff and call us. We provide a written description of what we found and repaired, which helps the landlord, tenant and any insurer understand what happened. A leak that reaches the unit below turns into a shared problem quickly, so a plain record protects everyone.
Permits And Repairs
Under New Jersey's ordinary maintenance rule, N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.7, a leak repair that replaces piping between two adjacent joints only does not need a permit. Replacing larger runs of supply piping is not ordinary maintenance. Call the East Orange Building Division at 973-266-5320 if you are not sure which side of the line your repair falls on.
What A Burst Pipe Repair Costs: The Pricing Factors
Burst Pipe Repair Near East Orange
We respond to burst pipes in Orange, Newark, Bloomfield, West Orange and Irvington as well. If you are not sure where the water is coming from, our leak detection service can trace it.
Code And Standards Reference
Replacing burst piping is more than ordinary maintenance under N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.7 once it adds, alters or replaces supply or drain piping. Repairs follow the plumbing subcode (N.J.A.C. 5:23-3.15), which the state lists as the National Standard Plumbing Code, 2024 New Jersey edition.