Burst Pipe and Leak Water Damage

If a pipe has burst or a leak is flooding your home, shut off the main water valve and call 786-919-0159. A live person answers 24/7 and sends a crew with a fast response anywhere in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach.

A burst supply line can release gallons of water per minute, and even a slow leak can soak a floor and wall cavity over a few days. Plumbing leaks are one of the most common causes of water damage in South Florida homes, and because the water is usually clean at first, fast action often means much of the floor and drywall can be saved.

Common Plumbing Leaks in South Florida

Supply lines and fittings

Flexible supply lines to toilets, sinks, ice makers and washing machines fail without warning, especially as they age. Plastic fittings in newer homes can crack.

Water heaters

Tank water heaters in garages and closets eventually rust through at the bottom, and relief valves and connections leak.

Slab leaks

Copper supply lines run under the concrete slab in many South Florida homes. Pinhole leaks show up as warm spots on the floor, damp carpet, loose tile or a water bill that jumps.

Polybutylene pipe

Homes built or re-plumbed from the late 1970s to the mid-1990s may have gray polybutylene supply pipe, which tends to fail at fittings.

Cast iron drains

Homes built before the mid-1970s often have cast iron drain lines under the slab that crack and leak, causing sewage odors and backups.

What to Do Right Now

1. Shut off the main water valve. In most homes it is near the front of the house, in the garage or by the water heater. Condo owners can often shut off water inside the unit or ask building staff.
2. Turn off the water heater if the leak involves it, at the breaker or gas valve.
3. Cut power to wet rooms at the breaker if you can do it from a dry spot.
4. Call 786-919-0159 and a licensed plumber to repair the pipe itself.
5. Photograph everything before cleanup, including the failed pipe or part.

How Burst Pipe Water Damage Is Handled

The crew extracts standing water, maps moisture with meters and thermal cameras, removes only what cannot be dried, and sets up commercial drying equipment. Because a pipe leak inside a wall or under a floor spreads out of sight, moisture mapping is critical; the visible puddle is often only part of the problem. Daily readings track the drying until everything is back to normal, then repairs begin. A licensed plumber fixes the pipe; the crew handles the water damage.

Will Insurance Cover Burst Pipe Cleanup?

Most homeowners and HO-6 condo policies cover water damage that is sudden and accidental, such as a burst pipe, a failed water heater or an overflowing appliance. They usually exclude damage from slow leaks that went on for weeks, normal wear and tear and flooding from outside water, which needs a separate flood policy.

Your policy also expects you to prevent further damage, which is why starting burst pipe cleanup right away matters. To protect your claim, photograph the damage and the source before cleanup, report the claim promptly, keep receipts and ask for the crew’s moisture readings, photos and drying records to share with your adjuster.

Signs of a Hidden Leak

• A water bill that jumps without explanation
• The water meter spinning when every fixture is off
• Warm spots on the floor (a hot water slab leak)
• Damp carpet or loose, cracked tile with no obvious source
• Musty smells, bubbling paint or swollen baseboards
• The sound of running water inside walls

If you notice any of these, shut off the main and call. Moisture meters and thermal cameras can locate hidden water without tearing open walls.

Slab Leaks in South Florida Homes

Many South Florida homes have copper supply lines running under the concrete slab. Over time, pinhole leaks develop, and water spreads under the floor before it shows. Hot water slab leaks often create warm spots. A licensed plumber can locate and repair or reroute the line; the water damage crew dries the slab, flooring and walls. Because tile over concrete hides water well, moisture mapping is essential to know what is still wet.

Water Heater Failures

Most tank water heaters last around a decade or so before the tank starts to rust through. Warning signs include rust-colored water, rumbling noises, moisture around the base and a leaking relief valve. When a tank fails, it can release its full contents and keep filling until the cold supply is shut off. Know where the shutoff valve on top of your water heater is, and if it is in a garage or closet next to living space, check the adjoining rooms for water after any leak.

Preventing Plumbing Leaks

• Replace rubber washer hoses with steel-braided hoses every few years.
• Check supply lines under sinks and behind toilets for bulges, rust or drips.
• Have water heaters inspected and replace them before they fail.
• If your home has polybutylene pipe, plan to repipe.
• Install a whole-home leak detector or automatic shutoff valve.
• Shut off the main water when you leave home for more than a few days.

Clean Water Turns Into Gray Water

Water from a burst supply line starts out clean, which gives you the best chance of drying floors and walls in place. But as it sits, it picks up bacteria from flooring, drywall and dust, and within a day or two it is treated as gray water, which means more has to be removed. Calling right away keeps the job in the clean-water category.

Leaks Inside Walls and Ceilings

When a pipe leaks inside a wall or above a ceiling, the water spreads before it shows. A shower valve, toilet supply or upstairs bathroom drain can soak wall cavities, insulation and the ceiling below for days. Signs include peeling paint, soft drywall, stains and a musty smell. Moisture mapping finds the full extent so the right sections are opened and dried, without tearing out more than necessary.

Polybutylene and Other Problem Pipes

If your home was built between the late 1970s and mid-1990s, check for gray polybutylene pipe stamped PB. It is known for failing at fittings, and some insurers will not cover homes that still have it. Older galvanized steel supply lines rust from the inside and leak at joints. If you have had one leak from either, more are likely; a licensed plumber can quote a repipe once the water damage is dried.

Related Services

• Water Extraction: getting the water out fast
• Water Mitigation and Drying: drying walls and floors
• Ceiling and Wall Water Damage: leaks inside walls and ceilings
• Sewage Cleanup: when a drain line fails

Where We Provide Burst Pipe Cleanup

Burst Pipe Cleanup is available 24/7 across all three South Florida counties, in every city, town and neighborhood:

• Miami-Dade County: Miami, Hialeah, Miami Beach, Coral Gables, Doral, Kendall, Homestead and more
• Broward County: Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Pembroke Pines, Coral Springs, Pompano Beach and more
• Palm Beach County: West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Jupiter, Wellington and more

See every community on our South Florida service areas page.

Burst Pipe Questions