How do I shut off the water to my whole house?

Find the main shut-off valve where the water line enters your home, usually near the front hose bib, in the garage, or at the meter box by the curb. Turn a round gate handle clockwise until it stops; turn a lever-style ball valve so it sits across the pipe. If the valve will not budge, do not force it, call us at (562) 245-5416 and we will talk you through the meter shut-off.

Should I turn off the electricity if a pipe bursts?

Only the circuits near the water. If water is running across outlets, light switches, or the breaker panel, stay out of the water and shut off the affected breakers from a dry spot. If you cannot reach the panel safely, leave it alone and tell us when you call, we will tell you what to do first.

Can I just catch the water in buckets and wait until morning?

Do not wait. A burst pipe keeps pushing water through the break until the supply is shut off, and water soaks into drywall, flooring, and framing by the minute. The longer it runs, the bigger the repair. Shut off the water and call for emergency burst pipe repair right away.

Will you have to tear open my walls to fix a burst pipe?

Usually only a small opening is needed. We use acoustic and thermal detection to pinpoint the break first, so any opening stays as small as possible. After the repair, we patch the opening back.

What should I tell you when I call about a burst pipe?

Tell us where the water is, when it started, whether you shut off the main valve, and whether water has reached anything electrical. That lets us dispatch correctly and talk you through any steps you still need to take before we arrive.

Emergency water shutoff steps

What to Do Immediately When a Pipe Bursts

Water from a burst pipe spreads through a home in minutes. These are the exact steps to take, in order, the moment you discover a burst pipe in your Lakewood home.

A small leak never stays small. Call before a pinhole becomes a flood.

Call (562) 245-5416

Sources & Further Reading

Official references behind the facts on this page.

U.S. EPA WaterSense, guidance on finding and fixing household water leaks.
Ready.gov, federal emergency preparedness guidance for homeowners.
City of Lakewood, CA, local water service and emergency information.

Links open official sources in a new tab. We re-check them yearly.