Burst pipe: the short answer
Shut off the main water valve first, then turn off power to wet areas if you can do it from a dry spot. After that, the job splits in two: a plumber repairs the pipe, and a water damage restoration contractor removes the water and dries the walls, floors and ceilings it reached. Photograph everything before cleanup starts. Call (770) 555-0186 to speak with a local water damage restoration contractor in the Kennesaw area.
What counts as burst pipe water damage?
This page covers clean water that escaped from your home's supply plumbing, including:
- a pipe that froze and split, often found when it thaws
- a failed washing machine hose, toilet supply line or ice maker line
- a leaking or ruptured water heater
- a slow leak inside a wall or ceiling that finally shows as a stain or sag
Drain and sewer lines are different, because that water is contaminated. If it smells like sewage, go to sewage backup cleanup. For every other type of loss, see our guide to water damage cleanup in Kennesaw, GA.
How urgent is it?
A supply line keeps running until someone shuts it off.
Pressurized pipes can release a large amount of water quickly, and it travels down through ceilings and into floor cavities. Close the main shutoff, which is often near where the water line enters the house or near the water heater, and find it now if you don't know where it is.
Then get drying started. The EPA's 24 to 48 hour window for drying applies, and industry guidelines based on the IICRC S500 standard say drywall should generally be replaced if drying isn't started within 48 hours or completed within 72 hours.
Frozen pipes in Kennesaw winters
Most winters here are mild, so plumbing in attics, crawl spaces, garages and exterior walls isn't always protected. That's why a hard freeze causes so much damage. In December 2022 metro Atlanta stayed below freezing for about three days and dropped to 8°F on Christmas Eve morning, and burst pipes and sprinkler lines flooded homes, apartments and businesses across the region as things thawed. Our guide to preventing frozen pipes in Kennesaw covers what to do before the next cold snap.
Hidden leaks in walls and ceilings
Not every pipe failure floods a room. A pinhole leak or a loose fitting can drip inside a wall for weeks. Clues include a stain that keeps growing, bubbling paint, a musty smell, warped baseboards and a water bill that jumps without explanation. The EPA's WaterSense program estimates that household leaks can waste close to 10,000 gallons a year in an average home. See signs of hidden water damage.
What happens during the visit
Confirm the water is off
The crew checks that the line is shut off or repaired, and that the electrical hazard is handled.
Extract and find the edges
Water is removed, and moisture meters and thermal imaging show how far it spread inside walls and below floors.
Open up what's trapped
Wet insulation and badly saturated drywall are cut out, sometimes just a strip at the bottom of the wall, so the cavity can dry.
Dry and document
Air movers and dehumidifiers run, with readings recorded until materials reach their drying goals.
Rebuild
Once everything reads dry, drywall, paint, trim and flooring are replaced.
The pipe repair itself is plumbing work, which is a separately licensed trade in Georgia. Ask whether the restoration company coordinates with a plumber or whether you should call one directly.
What affects the cost
- How long it ran: a leak caught in minutes is a different job from one that ran overnight.
- How many floors it reached: water from an upstairs bathroom can affect two ceilings and a basement.
- What's wet: insulation, hardwood, cabinets and finished basements add removal and rebuild time.
- Access to the pipe: pipes in crawl spaces, attics and finished walls take more opening up.
For context and comparison tips, see the Kennesaw water damage cost guide.
Insurance and burst pipes in Georgia
A former Georgia insurance commissioner explained that homeowners policies typically cover repairs to internal plumbing damaged by freezing and the resulting damage to carpet, furniture and belongings, while frozen pipes outside the home, such as in the yard, aren't covered by standard homeowners insurance. In a condo or apartment, damage from an upstairs neighbor's pipes is typically claimed under your own condo or renters policy. Notify your insurer right away. See how to file a water damage claim in Georgia.
Questions to ask before you hire
- Will you check inside the wall and ceiling cavities, not just the floor?
- How much drywall do you expect to remove, and why?
- Will you coordinate with a plumber for the pipe repair?
- Will the rebuild be done by your company or handed to someone else?
Burst pipes around Kennesaw
Freeze-related calls come from every kind of home, from older houses near Downtown Kennesaw to townhomes in Heritage Park and larger homes around Marietta Country Club, as well as Cartersville and Holly Springs.
What to have ready when you call
- whether the main water is off and the pipe has been repaired
- which floors and rooms the water reached, including ceilings below
- roughly how long the water ran before it was noticed
- whether you've contacted your insurer