A Pipe Just Burst: The First Ten Minutes
Water is moving fast, so act before you call. Shut the main valve, and then phone us, because our line is answered 24/7. Every minute with the water on adds to the flooring, drywall and furniture you will have to replace.
Open the lowest faucet in the house to drain what is left in the pipes. Stay out of rooms where water has reached outlets. If you must reach the breaker panel, make sure the floor around it is dry.
Do not wait to see whether the leak slows. A split pipe does not heal. Lift valuables off the floor and photograph the damage before cleanup starts.
Where Your Main Shutoff Valve Is
Most callers lose the first few minutes hunting for the valve. Find it today and tag it with tape so everyone in the house can turn it.
A gate valve takes several full turns clockwise and can stick if it has not moved in years. A ball valve has a lever that sits in line with the pipe when open and crosswise when closed. If neither one will move, the valve at the meter is the utility's, so call us or the City of Dania Beach rather than forcing it.
| Type of home | Where the valve usually is | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Single-family house | Where the pipe enters near the front wall, a hose spigot area or an outside wall near the water heater | Test it once a year so it does not seize |
| Condo or apartment | Inside the unit near the water heater, or in a utility closet | Ask your association which valves serve only your unit |
| Mobile home | Often near where the supply line enters, outside or under the home | Check your owner's manual or ask park management |
| Shop or plaza suite | Utility room, back hallway or a riser closet | Post the location by the front counter |
Hurricane Season and Storm-Related Breaks
Hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30, and Florida emergency officials say it is busiest from mid-August to mid-October. Wind can drop a limb on an outdoor line or a hose bib. Floods can shift a water heater or a toilet supply. Hurricane Wilma crossed Broward in October 2005 with gusts near 98 to 99 mph at nearby stations, and the April 12 to 13, 2023 flood and tornado closed Dania Beach City Hall and parks.
After any storm, walk the property before you turn everything back on. Look for a wet patch in the yard, a bent hose bib or a branch resting on a pipe. Check the meter with the house shut off, since a break outside can run unseen under grass.
Boil Notice After a Water Main Break
A burst inside your house and a break in the street main can look alike at first, because both can lower pressure. On February 18, 2026, a main break near SW 54th Street and 40th Avenue put 41 Dania Beach residents under a boil advisory. In 2017, an FPL outage at the city water plant after Hurricane Irma triggered a notice east of Anglers Avenue.
If your street is under a notice, the CDC says to bring clear water to a rolling boil for 1 minute. The Florida Department of Health asks for at least a minute of boiling for drinking, cooking, ice, brushing teeth and washing dishes. We cannot tell you by phone which kind of break you have, but we can check your side of the meter.
What Makes a Pipe Burst Here
Freezing is a rare cause in South Florida. More often a burst traces to corrosion, a failed fitting, high pressure or a hit from a shovel or drill.
A thermal expansion tank on the water heater helps absorb pressure spikes in a closed system. When we repair a burst, we look at the pressure, the pipe around the break and the age of nearby fittings. If the pipe is polybutylene or old galvanized steel, we may suggest a repipe instead of another patch.
Cracked Pipes, Pinhole Leaks and Copper Repairs
Not every failure is a burst. A cracked pipe weeps or sprays from a split along its length, often after a joint was bumped or a fitting aged. A pinhole leak is a tiny hole, common in older copper, that sprays a fine mist and leaves green or white crust on the outside of the pipe.
Copper can be repaired by cutting out the damaged section and joining new pipe with proper fittings. A single pinhole in old pipe is worth a second look, because the rest of the run may be thin too. If you have found more than one, ask us about repiping.
Drain pipes can crack as well. A broken drain pipe leaks only when water runs through it, so the stain appears after a shower or a load of laundry. Tell us what was running when you saw the leak.
After the Water Stops: Repair and Cleanup
We cut out the split section and join new pipe, usually PEX or copper, with proper fittings. Then we pressure-test the repair before anything is closed up.
Water damage cleanup is a separate job. Drywall that stays wet for more than a day or two can grow mold, so call a drying company quickly. A break in concrete is a different case, covered on our slab leak repair page.
Before the Plumber Gets There
These steps keep a small disaster from growing.
- Close the main valve and open the lowest faucet.
- Move people and pets away from wet electrical areas.
- Lift furniture, rugs and electronics off the floor.
- Photograph the burst, the wet areas and the meter.
- Mop or squeegee standing water toward a drain or door.
- Keep your insurer's claim line handy.
What Burst Pipe Repair Costs in South Florida
National published guides put burst pipe repair at about $200 to $3,000 in one guide and $150 to $4,700 in another, with averages near $500. Florida prices vary, and we have no Broward figure to quote.
Water damage cleanup after a burst is extra, at $1,000 to $4,000 in one national guide.
What moves the price
- Pipe location. A hose bib is easy to reach. A line inside a finished wall is not.
- Material. PEX, copper, CPVC and galvanized pipe each need different fittings and tools.
- Size of the break. A pinhole costs less than a long split along a seam.
- After hours. Ask on the call whether nights, weekends or holidays are priced differently.
| Work | Published range |
|---|---|
| Burst pipe repair, one national guide | $200 to $3,000, average near $500 |
| Pipe leak repair, another national guide | $150 to $4,700 |
| Water damage cleanup after a burst, one guide | $1,000 to $4,000 |
Policies differ. Many cover sudden and accidental bursts and treat slow seepage differently, and some limit the amount paid per event. Call your insurer before you throw away damaged materials, and keep photos, the receipt and our written note of what failed.
A real number depends on the pipe and its location. Call (954) 697-4920, tell us what split and where, and we will explain what the repair would involve.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you handle burst pipe emergencies at night or on weekends in Dania?
Yes. Our dispatch line runs 24/7, including storm nights. We cannot promise an arrival time by phone, so close your main valve while a plumber is on the way.
I cannot find my shutoff valve. What do I do?
Check near the water heater, along the front wall and at any utility closet. If you still cannot find it, call us and keep a bucket and towels ready. The valve at the meter belongs to the utility, so do not force it.
Is a burst pipe the same as a main break in the street?
No. A main break is the city's problem and can cause low pressure and a boil notice. A burst inside your house is yours. Close your main valve and check the meter to tell them apart. If the loss is on the line between meter and house, see water service line repair.
I rent in Dania Beach and a pipe burst. Who calls?
Tell your landlord or manager in writing at once and close the main valve if you can. The owner usually authorizes repairs, and we can take the call. We also serve nearby Davie if you manage property across town.
Will my insurance pay for a burst pipe?
It depends on your policy and on how sudden the break was. Many policies cover sudden bursts and are stricter on slow leaks. Photograph everything and call your insurer before you discard damaged materials. Call (954) 697-4920 if you need a written note of the repair.
Code reference: plumbing work in Florida falls under the Florida Building Code, Plumbing (8th Edition, 2023), which is based on the 2021 International Plumbing Code (IPC). Ask the Dania Beach Building Division whether your job needs a permit.