If a pipe has burst, the first job is to stop the water, and the second is to call us. Our line runs 24/7, and you can close the main valve and kill power to wet areas while you wait for dispatch.
Burst pipe repair in Wyoming means cutting out the split or cracked section of a supply or drain line and replacing it with sound pipe and proper fittings. The repair has to match the pipe material, or the new joint becomes the next failure.
Burst pipe emergency: water is pouring from a pipe right now
Every minute of full flow can put gallons into floors and ceilings. Stop the supply first, then limit what the water can reach, and call for a plumber with same-day appointments when available.
- Turn off the main shutoff valve, usually near the meter or where the line enters the house.
- Open the lowest faucet to drain remaining water out of the pipes.
- Switch off power to wet areas at the breaker only if the panel is dry and you can reach it safely.
- Turn off the water heater's power or gas so it does not run dry.
- Photograph everything before you move it, then call (855) 575-2890.
Finding and closing the right valve
In a panic, most people close the wrong valve or cannot find one. Learn this before you need it.
- 1
Look where the line enters
In most homes the main valve is on the wall where the water line comes in, often in a basement or utility area.
- 2
Turn it fully closed
A gate valve with a round wheel needs several clockwise turns. A lever ball valve closes with a quarter turn across the pipe.
- 3
Check the meter
With the valve closed, the meter dial should stop. If it keeps moving, the break is on the supply side ahead of the valve.
- 4
Use the curb stop if the main is stuck
If the house valve will not turn, the city's shutoff in the meter pit is the fallback. Do not force a valve that is seized, and call us if you are unsure.
Why pipes crack when winter swings back and forth
Michigan's freeze and thaw cycles are the main reason pipes split. Water expands when it freezes, and the pressure builds between the ice plug and a closed faucet until the pipe wall gives way. The split often appears only after the ice thaws and water starts flowing again.
The pipes most at risk run through exterior walls, unheated garages, crawlspaces and basements near rim joists. A single cold night with a draft can do it, which is why a pipe that has frozen once should be inspected even if it has not leaked yet.
If the pipe is frozen but not yet burst
A trickle at the tap, frost on a pipe or a faucet that gives nothing at all points to ice inside the line. Open the tap and warm the pipe gently with a hair dryer or heating pad, starting at the tap side. Never use a torch or open flame, and do not leave a heat source unattended.
If you cannot find the frozen section, or the pipe is bulging, cracked or already dripping, close the main and call us. A pipe that has been through a hard freeze may leak from a hairline crack that only shows when the thaw begins.
Repair options by pipe material
The right fix depends on what the pipe is made of and how much of the line is damaged.
| Material | Typical repair | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Copper | Cut out the split, sweat in new copper and fittings | Pinholes elsewhere along the same run |
| PEX | Cut and use approved crimp or expansion fittings | Kinks and sun or chemical damage |
| Galvanized steel | Replace the section with newer pipe and transition fittings | Corrosion at threads and neighbors that are close to failing |
| PVC or CPVC | Cut and solvent-weld a new section | Brittleness near heat or in older plastic |
| Cast iron or plastic drain | Replace the damaged piece and reconnect | Cracks from settling or ground movement |
If several sections are failing, repair costs add up and repiping part or all of the house may be the better value.
Water still running? Call now
Dispatch can walk you through the shutoff and send a plumber at (855) 575-2890.
Cracked drain pipes and what they look like
A burst supply line sprays or floods, but a cracked drain leaks quietly. Look for a damp patch near a stack, stains below a bathroom, slow drains and a sewer smell. Cast iron cracks as it ages, and plastic can split where a hanger is too tight.
We locate the break with a camera or by isolating the line, then cut out the bad section. If we find the break after tracing a hidden loss, our leak detection work comes first. A failing buried water pipe is a different job covered under water service line repair. If the damaged drain runs under a slab or in the yard, the repair is a larger job that we quote after we see it.
Emergency repairs still follow the plumbing code
A burst pipe is urgent, but the repair is still governed by the 2021 Michigan Plumbing Code, which rests on the 2021 International Plumbing Code (IPC). Replaced supply and drain pipes need a city permit, and the work belongs to a plumber licensed by the State of Michigan or the owner-resident.
Ask how the permit and inspection will be handled once the water is off, so the repaired line is checked rather than simply covered up.
What you do about the water damage
We are plumbers, not a water damage restoration company. We stop the leak and repair the pipe, but we do not dry out structures, remove wet drywall, treat mold or rebuild floors.
Take photos and video of the damage before and after we arrive, and call your insurance company early. Ask them about approved restoration companies so drying can begin as soon as the pipe is fixed.
Permits and who handles which pipe in the city
Wyoming requires a plumbing permit before replacing drain, vent and water supply pipes. If the repair is a small section, we confirm with Building Inspections whether the work needs a permit, and a permit holder schedules the inspection with at least 24 hours' notice, which can affect when the wall is closed up.
If the water is coming from outside, in the street or a yard near a hydrant, call the city's Public Works line, which is staffed 24/7. If the break is inside your walls or at a fixture, it is your repair and we are the right call. Our crews also reach Kentwood and the surrounding area.
What determines the cost of a burst pipe repair
Burst pipe jobs range from one fitting to a long run of replacement pipe. You get a clear price before work starts.
Sudden pipe bursts are often covered by homeowner policies, though coverage for the pipe itself and for the resulting damage can differ, so call your agent.
Call (855) 575-2890 for your real number before any work begins.
Patch the section or replace the run
A repair makes sense when
- One clear split caused by a hard freeze
- The rest of the pipe looks sound
- Nearby fittings are in good shape
- The pipe is accessible without opening walls
Replacement is worth considering when
- Several pinholes or leaks have appeared
- The pipe is old galvanized steel
- The same run has frozen more than once
- Pipe walls are thin or heavily corroded
Questions about burst pipe repair in Wyoming
Yes. Dispatch is staffed 24/7 and a burst pipe is treated as an emergency at any hour. Close the main valve and call (855) 575-2890 so we can send a plumber.
Yes, if you can do it safely. Turn off the power or gas so the heating element or burner does not run with a dry tank. The valve on the cold line into the heater can also be closed.
Many policies cover sudden bursts and the resulting damage, but the details vary, so call your agent early. Keep photos and receipts for any emergency work.
A clamp can slow a leak briefly, but it is a stopgap, not a repair. A permanent fix needs cut-out pipe and proper fittings, and replacing water supply pipes in the city may need a permit.
Insulate pipes in garages and exterior walls, seal drafts around rim joists, and let a faucet drip during a hard freeze. Keep the heat on if you are away.
Water in the street or yard near the meter goes to Public Works, which is on call 24/7 for those leaks. If the pipe on your side of the meter is the cause, call us.
Get the pipe fixed the right way
We repair the break, check the pipes around it and give you a clear price before work starts at (855) 575-2890.