Stopping the water and draining down
The main is closed and the affected lines are drained so the repair area is dry enough to work on. Fixtures upstream stay usable where the layout allows it.
Burst Pipe Repair
A split line can flood a room faster than you can find a bucket. San Marcos Emergency Plumber shuts the water down, locates the failed section and repairs it so the rest of the house can be used again.
- 24/7 Emergency Service
- Upfront Quotes
- Same-Day Availability
Signs That Need Attention
- Water running behind a wall or ceiling when every tap is closed
- A sudden drop in pressure at one or more fixtures
- Wet drywall, a sagging ceiling patch or a stained baseboard
- The meter dial still turning after the whole house is shut off
- A split copper or PEX line in the attic after a hard freeze
If water is running, go to the meter box near the curb and close the main valve before anything else. In San Marcos the box is usually a rectangular lid in the grass at the front of the lot. On a well, shut off the power to the pump instead. Once the water is off, the leak stops getting worse and the repair stays smaller.
What the Service Includes
Not every visit needs every item below. San Marcos Emergency Plumber separates the repair you called about from anything optional, and the quote shows both.
Finding the actual break
A wet ceiling rarely sits under the failure. Water travels along joists and top plates, so the line is traced back to the split before anything is opened up.
A repair that is tested before we leave
The new section is joined, the system is repressurised and the joints are watched under pressure. You see the repair working before the water is left on.
Your Options
The repair depends on what the pipe is made of and where it sits. A clean split in an accessible attic run is usually a same-visit fix. A line inside a wall, in a ceiling or buried in a slab needs more care about access, and the technician will show you the options before cutting.
If the pipe failed at an angle stop, a hose bib or the connection to the tank, ask about the condition of the rest of that run. Where the leak has soaked a water heater, it is worth comparing repair and replacement in the same visit rather than twice in a month.
Not certain where the water is coming from? Leak detection comes first, and a line under the floor is handled as a slab leak repair. Our step-by-step guide to what to do when a pipe bursts covers the first ten minutes.
Burst Pipe Repair Questions
What affects the cost of a burst pipe repair?
Three things: how much pipe has to be replaced, how hard it is to reach, and whether a fixture or appliance was damaged too. San Marcos Emergency Plumber inspects first and gives you the price before any cutting starts.
Can you repair it on the first visit?
Most accessible splits in copper, CPVC or PEX are repaired the same visit. A line buried in a slab or an unusual fitting can need a return trip, and San Marcos Emergency Plumber tells you that at the inspection rather than afterwards.
What should I do while I wait for the plumber?
Close the main valve at the meter box, open a low faucet to drain the lines, and move anything valuable out from under the wet area. Do not stand under a sagging ceiling and do not touch wiring or outlets near the water.
Why do pipes burst in Central Texas when it freezes?
Local homes run a lot of water line through unheated attics and along exterior walls, which is fine until a hard freeze like February 2021. Water expands as it freezes, the pipe splits, and the flood arrives when it thaws. See our freeze guide for what to do first.
Arrange burst pipe repair in San Marcos
Describe what is happening and we will plan the visit around it.