A burst pipe in Lafayette will not wait for business hours, and our emergency line is open 24/7. While you wait for us, shut off the main water valve, switch off power to any wet area, and open a faucet at the lowest point to drain the lines.
Burst pipe repair means finding the split, cutting out the damaged section, and joining new pipe in its place. The pipe might be copper, PEX, galvanized steel or a buried drain line, and each one fails in its own way.
The sections below cover what to do in the next ten minutes, what a repair visit involves, who owns which part of the line, and how to document the damage for your insurer. Replacement pipe and fittings are installed to the California Plumbing Code, which is based on the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC), which sets the standards for materials and supports.
Water is pouring out: stop it before anything else
Every minute of flow soaks drywall, flooring and insulation. Shutting off the water is the single most useful thing you can do before anyone arrives.
- Turn the main shutoff clockwise until it stops. In many homes it sits near the front hose bib, in the garage, or beside the water heater.
- If water is near outlets, appliances or the panel, switch off those breakers only if you can reach them while standing on dry ground. Otherwise stay away and call.
- Open the lowest faucet or hose bib to drain what is left in the lines, then open an upstairs tap to let air in.
- Turn off the water heater (gas control to pilot or off, electric breaker off) if you cannot be sure the lines will stay full.
What a split pipe looks like in different materials
The material tells us a lot about why it failed and how we fix it.
| Pipe type | How it usually fails | Typical repair |
|---|---|---|
| Copper | Pinhole corrosion, or a split from hard impact or cold. | Cut out the section and sweat in a new piece or use press fittings. |
| PEX | Cracked fitting, UV damage, or a nick from a screw or rodent. | Cut and join with crimp or expansion fittings. |
| Galvanized steel | Rust from the inside that thins the wall until it gives way. | Replace the failed run, often the sign to plan a repipe. |
| Cast iron or PVC drain. | Cracked bell, root pressure, or a joint that has let go. | Replace the section with new pipe and couplings, or repair from the cleanout side. |
A single repair on old galvanized or corroded copper often just reveals the next weak spot. We will say so plainly if the pipe around the break looks tired.
Supply lines, supply valves and drain pipes
Not every burst is a main-line event. A braided supply hose under a sink can let go and fill a cabinet in an hour, and a corroded angle stop can spray as soon as someone turns it. These are quick fixes once the water is off.
Drain pipes break differently. A cracked drain does not spray, it leaks only when you run water, so you may find a stain in the ceiling below a bathroom or a soft spot under the kitchen floor. If the leak only shows when fixtures run, say so when you call.
Hidden leaks behind walls or under slabs may need a leak detection visit with an acoustic listening device before anyone opens a wall. That saves cutting in the wrong place.
Cold nights and split lines: how likely is it here
Lafayette has a mild Mediterranean climate with dry summers and wet winters, so frozen pipes are uncommon. Even so, an exposed line on an outside wall, in a crawl space vent area, or at a hose bib can split on an unusually cold night.
If a hard freeze is forecast, disconnect garden hoses, cover exposed spigots, and let one faucet drip. If a pipe has frozen but not yet burst, do not use a torch on it. Shut off the main and call.
A repair visit, step by step
Here is how a typical emergency repair goes once we are at the door.
- We confirm the main is off, check for electrical hazards, and look at where the water has traveled.
- We trace the leak to its source, using a moisture meter or listening device when the pipe is hidden.
- We explain what failed and what the repair options are, and give you a clear price before work starts.
- We cut out the damaged section, fit new pipe and fittings, and pressure-test the repair.
- We restore water slowly, bleed the air from the lines, and check every fixture for leaks and normal flow.
- We tell you whether nearby pipe looks sound, and whether repiping is worth planning later.
Who fixes which part: EBMUD or you
EBMUD supplies Lafayette water, and the meter marks a clear line of responsibility. EBMUD handles leaks on the street side of the meter, including the meter and its threads. You own leaks and repairs on the customer side, from the meter to the house and everything inside.
If you see water bubbling up near the curb meter box and your house side tests dry, call EBMUD Emergency Dispatch at 1-866-403-2683 (press 1). To test, shut the houseline valve, mark the meter dial, and wait 30 minutes. A moving dial means the leak sits between the meter and the house. See the EBMUD guide for leaks and high bills for the full steps.
If the break is in the buried pipe between the meter and your house, that is water line repair, and the cost and the digging fall to you. Call us and we will tell you which side of the line you are on.
Cost of burst pipe repair and what insurance covers
Price depends on pipe material, how deep or hidden the break is, whether drywall or flooring must be opened, how many feet of pipe are replaced, and whether it is an after-hours call. A reachable copper split under a sink costs far less labor than a buried line under a driveway.
On insurance: many homeowner policies cover sudden, accidental water damage, such as a pipe that bursts, but often exclude slow leaks and the failed pipe itself. Policies differ, so read yours and ask your insurer what applies. Save the damaged section of pipe if you can, and take dated photos and video of the water, the break and every wet surface before cleanup.
Call us for a clear price before work starts, and keep receipts for the repair and any drying services.
What this looks like in Lafayette and nearby
We dispatch from Lafayette at 3640 Mt. Diablo Blvd and serve the surrounding towns, including Walnut Creek. Lafayette's EBMUD water is very soft, with hardness of 16 mg/L, so heavy mineral scale is rarely the cause of a pipe failure here. When we find a split line, the reason is more often age, corrosion, a fitting, or physical damage.
The same-day appointment slots we offer when available are useful for the follow-up work, such as patching drywall after the leak is fixed and verifying a clean pressure test.
Burst pipe questions homeowners ask us
Yes. Our emergency line runs 24/7, including nights, weekends and holidays. Call, tell us what you see, and shut off the main water valve while we get to you.
Pipe material, access, how many feet need replacing, and whether walls or flooring must be opened all matter. Time of day also plays a part. We give you a clear price before work starts, so call and describe the break.
Many policies cover sudden water damage from a burst pipe but not slow leaks or the cost of the pipe itself. Coverage varies, so read your policy and ask your insurer. Photograph everything before you clean up.
Sometimes, if the main is fully shut off and nothing is still dripping. Standing water in walls, ceilings or near wiring still deserves a call, because moisture can spread and promote mold if left.
Locate the meter box near the curb and check the leak indicator with all water off. Then shut the houseline valve and watch the dial for 30 minutes. If it still moves, the leak is likely on the street side and EBMUD handles it.
Not always. One break in healthy copper or PEX is usually a local repair. Repeated failures in galvanized or badly corroded pipe point toward repiping, and we will tell you which case you have.
Still unsure what you are dealing with? Call the 24/7 line and describe it to a dispatcher.
Call (855) 575-2890