Help Your Home Stay Dry: Learn How to Manage Burst Pipes and Protect Your Property
Water may seem harmless until it's pouring through your ceiling at 3 a.m. Knowing how to manage burst pipes is important for your home because the damage is sudden, and one pipe failure can flood an entire room, damaging flooring, drywall, insulation, and all your personal belongings. At The Homestar Group, we’ve seen firsthand how quickly burst pipes can turn into major restoration jobs.
As Atlanta water damage restoration specialists, we’ve prepared a guide to help you understand what causes pipes to burst and how to prevent it, ensuring your home remains dry and safe from this type of water disaster. So, let’s take a look.
What Are the Main Reasons Behind Pipe Bursts?
Pipes can burst for several reasons, many of which are preventable with a little maintenance effort on your part. Here are the most common causes of water damage caused by pipe bursts:
Below Zero Temperatures
Cold weather is one of the top reasons for burst pipes, even in southern states like Georgia. When temperatures dip below freezing, any water inside uninsulated or exposed pipes can freeze. As water freezes, it expands, placing pressure on the pipe walls until they rupture. This is especially common in crawl spaces, attics, and outside walls.
Inadequate Water Pressure
While strong water pressure is great sometimes, other times it can harm your plumbing system. If the pressure is beyond 60–70 psi, it may weaken pipe joints or fittings. Over time, this stress can cause the pipe to burst without warning.
Corrosion on Old Pipes
Like any material, pipes wear down with time. Corrosion, often caused by minerals or acidity in the water supply, can eat away at the pipe from the inside out. Older metal pipes are especially vulnerable, and aging plumbing can fail even from normal pressure. Rust-colored water or stains can be an early warning sign of this.
How to Manage Burst Pipes: What Should I Do Immediately After a Pipe Bursts?
Even though water from burst pipes is one of the least dangerous categories of water damage, it still needs to be handled quickly. When water starts pouring in, these emergency steps can help you limit the damage:
- Shut the Water off: Find your home’s main water shutoff valve (it’s usually located near the water meter or where the main line enters your house). Turning this off will stop more water from escaping.
- Cut the power in flooded areas: If water is near electrical outlets or appliances, shut off the power to those zones to avoid shock hazards.
- Open the taps: Let the remaining water flow out and reduce pressure in the lines.
- Try to control the spread of water: Use buckets or towels, or even a wet-dry vacuum to soak up standing water and stop it from spreading.
- Call a professional: Contact a licensed restoration company like The Homestar Group to assess the damage, begin water extraction, and prevent water-related mold issues.
Keep Pipes Intact: Smart Ways to Prevent Bursts
The best way to avoid water damage from burst pipes is to take steps ahead of time, especially before winter. Here are some simple ways to reduce your risk:
- Insulate pipes in cold areas: Use foam pipe sleeves or insulation tape on pipes in crawl spaces, garages, and along exterior walls.
- Keep your home warm: Maintain indoor temperatures above 55°F during cold weather even if you’re leaving town.
- Seal air leaks: Close gaps and cracks around doors, windows, and foundations to keep cold air out.
- Let faucets drip in freezing weather: Allowing a slow drip from faucets during a freeze can relieve pressure in the system and keep water flowing.
- Check for early signs of corrosion: Discolored water, low pressure, and visible rust may mean your pipes are deteriorating.
- Schedule preventative plumbing checks: A licensed plumber can find weak spots before they fail and offer solutions to prevent any surprises.
Need more help protecting your home? Read our guide on 10 essential water damage prevention tips for additional solutions!
Why The Homestar Group Is Your Best Choice
If you’ve experienced water damage from a burst pipe, you need a team that moves fast and knows what they’re doing. At The Homestar Group, we specialize in water damage restoration in Atlanta and burst pipe repair for homes. We’re locally based, so we respond quickly - often within hours of your call. Our trained team uses advanced equipment to extract water, dry structures, and prevent mold growth before it starts.
From emergency mitigation to full restoration, we handle every step with care, professionalism, and transparency. Our goal is simple: restore your home to its best condition and give you peace of mind.
You can also see a real-life example of how we restored a home in Atlanta from severe water damage caused by a plumbing issue.
Need Fast Help With a Burst Pipe? Call The Homestar Group Today!
Don’t wait until a burst pipe causes major damage to your home. If you’ve already experienced a leak, call our team at
The Homestar Group at (678) 928-5377 for expert help, or
fill out this online form for a free quote. We’re here 24/7 to respond to water damage emergencies and provide reliable, local restoration services. Protect your home before it’s too late - reach out to The Homestar Group today!
