Stop the water first, repair second
A burst pipe is an emergency at any hour, and dispatch runs 24/7. Closing the home's main valve is the single most useful thing you can do while waiting, because a half-inch line can pass several gallons a minute.
Keep everyone out of rooms where water is near electrical outlets, and do not stand in standing water to reach a panel.
Shut the main valve
It is usually where the line enters the house. Turn a lever handle crosswise to the pipe, or a wheel handle clockwise until it stops.
Open the lowest faucet
Open a tap on the lowest floor to drain the line and relieve pressure, so less water reaches the break.
Turn off the water heater
Set a gas heater to pilot or off, or switch off the breaker for an electric one. A heater should never run with the supply closed and the tank drained.
Contain and photograph
Catch drips, lift furniture from the floor and take photos of the pipe and the damage before anything is moved.
If the main valve is stuck or leaks when closed, tell the dispatcher. The city's water department handles anything at the street meter, so do not force or turn the meter or its setter.
What the damage usually looks like
The symptom points to the type of failure, and the type decides the repair.
A frozen-pipe split
A lengthwise slit in copper or a bulge in PEX, found after a cold snap. Water appears when the ice thaws, often hours after the damage happened.
A pinhole leak
A needle-thin spray or green stain on copper. Corrosion has worn through the wall, and nearby pipe is usually thin as well.
A failed fitting
A joint that sprays or weeps. Poor soldering, a loose compression nut or a worn crimp ring is the cause rather than the pipe itself.
A cracked drain
A wet spot that appears only after you use a sink or tub. The drain line has cracked or a joint has separated.
Repair options and when each one is the right call
| Repair | How it works | Best when | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Push-fit or compression coupling | Slides over a cut section and seals with an O-ring or ferrule | One clean split on straight copper or PEX, quick return to service | Bulky, so best kept where the joint stays visible for a check |
| Cut-out and sweat a new section | Remove the damaged copper and solder in new pipe and couplings | A split or pinhole in accessible copper | Needs a dry pipe and open flame, so it takes longer in tight spaces |
| PEX section with crimp or expansion rings | Replace the section with flexible PEX and rings | Frozen splits and awkward routes | Different pipe material mixed into an existing copper system needs proper transition fittings |
| Replace the whole run | New pipe from valve to fixture | Several pinholes in the same branch | More cutting and cost, but ends the repeat failures |
| Repipe the home | Rebuild the supply system | Failures throughout the house | Largest job, see repiping |
Couplings buy time. If the pipe is thin or corroded near the repair, a second failure within a season is likely, and the plumber should say so before choosing the lightest fix.
Copper pipe repair
Copper fails in three ways. Freezing splits it lengthwise, corrosion pits it into pinholes, and heat or vibration loosens a soldered joint. Before cutting, the plumber looks at the pipe's wall thickness and color. Pale, scaly or blue-green copper means the problem is wider than the leak.
A proper repair removes enough pipe to reach solid metal, cleans the ends to bright copper, fluxes, solders and then pressure-tests. Epoxy and rubber clamps only stop a leak until the visit. They do not belong inside a wall.
Water spraying or seeping from a pipe? Shut the main valve and call (385) 488-1892.
Call (385) 488-1892Drain pipe and waste line cracks
A broken drain does not spray, it seeps. Staining, a damp subfloor, or a musty cabinet can all be a cracked trap arm, a loose slip joint or a separated PVC glue joint. The plumber finds it by running water and watching.
Repairs are simpler than on pressure lines. A cut-out and a new PVC section with proper couplings, pitched to drain, usually does it. A crack under a slab or deeper in the yard is confirmed with a camera, and our leak detection work covers the search.
Why freezing is a real risk in Herriman
The Utah Geological Survey describes cold, damp winters in the area including north Herriman. The city's own winterization notice warns that freezing can crack pipes and sprinkler parts, and it recommends draining and insulating exposed lines in garages, crawl spaces and other unheated areas.
Pipes on exterior walls, in garage ceilings and at hose bibs are the classic split points. Disconnect hoses in the fall and open cabinet doors on a freezing night.
If a pipe is frozen but not yet split, open the faucet and warm the pipe with a hair dryer. Never use an open flame. Call if you see a bulge.
After the repair
The pipe is fixed, but water may still be in the structure. Handle these the same day.
- Reopen the main valve slowly and check the repair for weeping once pressure returns.
- Photograph the damage, the pipe and the water line height on walls for your insurer.
- Run fans and a dehumidifier. Wet drywall and insulation that stay damp for more than two days can grow mold.
- Call a restoration company for flooded carpet, pad or soaked drywall. We repair the plumbing, not the structure.
Repair of an existing line does not need a permit in Herriman. Adding new plumbing lines does, so tell the plumber if you want a new shutoff or a rerouted branch.
What drives the cost of a burst pipe repair
The plumber should explain the price before starting, unless the flood demands immediate action.
- The pipe material and size. Half-inch PEX is a quick fix. Large copper or hard-to-reach cast iron takes longer.
- Access. A split in an open basement joist is easy. A split inside a finished wall needs an opening and later patching.
- Repair versus replacement. A coupling costs less today, a replaced run costs less over the long term when pipes are thin.
- Emergency hours. Night and weekend response is priced differently from a booked visit.
Homeowners policies usually cover sudden pipe bursts and the resulting water damage, and usually exclude gradual leaks and wear. Freeze coverage can depend on whether the home was heated. Ask your insurer before work and keep your photos.
Want your real number? Call (385) 488-1892 and describe the pipe and the damage.
Burst pipe questions answered
What should I do first when a pipe bursts?
Close the home's main water valve, open the lowest faucet to drain the line, and shut off the water heater. Then call. Do not touch the city meter or its setter.
Do you handle burst pipe emergencies at night or on weekends in Herriman?
Yes. Dispatch answers around the clock for floods. Arrival depends on the evening and the call volume, so the dispatcher gives you an honest estimate and tells you what to shut off meanwhile.
Can a burst copper pipe be repaired without replacing it all?
Often yes. A split section is cut out and replaced. If several pinholes appear along one run, the pipe is worn throughout and replacing the run saves repeat visits.
How do I know whether the pipe burst from freezing?
Freeze splits are usually lengthwise, bulged and located on exterior walls, garages or crawl spaces after cold weather. Pinhole sprays and green staining point to corrosion instead.
Will insurance cover a burst pipe?
Sudden bursts are often covered, gradual leaks are not. Policies differ on freeze damage and on tear-out cost. Call your insurer and keep photos and the plumber's note.
Is a broken drain pipe repaired the same way?
Similar tools, different logic. Drain lines carry no pressure, so a cut-out and new PVC section with correct slope is typical. See sewer inspection if the crack may be under the yard.
Do you replace pipes behind drywall?
Yes, the plumbing side. The wall is opened to reach the pipe, and patching and paint are handled by a drywall contractor. A water line repair outside the house is a separate service.
Pipe down and water on the floor? Call (385) 488-1892 now.
Call (385) 488-1892Sources and standards
The standards and local rules behind this service page are listed below. Rules and fees change, so read the current version before you rely on them.