Emergency Plumbing
Burst lines, sewage backups, failed water heaters and gas smells handled around the clock, starting with the shutoff steps you can take before we arrive.
See the detailsBurst pipe repair in Los Angeles, from split copper to blown fittings
A pipe just let go and water is pouring out of a wall, a ceiling or the ground. We stop the flow, cut out the damaged section and find out why it failed so the next fitting is not right behind it.
- Answered 24/7
- From 746 S Broadway
- Repairs & emergencies
The short answer
Burst pipe repair means stopping the water, opening just enough wall, ceiling or ground to reach the failure, cutting out the damaged section and installing new pipe and fittings that are pressure tested before anything is closed. In LA, pipes burst mostly from corrosion, high pressure, old fittings and ground movement, not freezing. Shut the main valve first, then call us.
Warning signs
How a burst pipe shows up in an LA house
- Sudden spray inside a wallA loud pop followed by hissing and a fast wet spot usually means a fitting or pipe wall has split under pressure.
- Water pouring from a light fixtureWater collects above the ceiling and finds the easiest way out, which is often a can light or a ceiling fan box. Turn off that circuit.
- Bubbling ground near the houseA geyser or a fast-growing puddle between the meter and the house usually means the service line has cracked.
- Pressure drops to a trickleIf every faucet weakens at once while the meter races, most of your water is going out a break somewhere.
- Rusty water then nothingOld galvanized pipe can send a burst of brown water just before a corroded nipple gives out.
- Water heater connector failureFlexible connectors on top of an older tank can corrode and blow, spraying hot water across the garage or closet.
Why pipes burst in a city that almost never freezes
Freezing is rare in the LA basin, though it does happen in the high desert and mountain communities. In most of the region, burst pipes come from corrosion, pressure and age. Galvanized steel rusts from the inside, and the threaded ends are the thinnest point. When that last bit of metal gives out, the joint lets go at full street pressure.
High static pressure is the second big cause. Many neighborhoods, especially at the bottom of hills, get water at well above what household plumbing is meant to handle. When the pressure regulator at the house fails, every pipe and fitting sits under that extra load day and night. Our pressure regulator service often follows a burst pipe repair for exactly that reason.
Ground movement is the third. Earthquakes, settling soil and tree roots can bend or shear a pipe where it enters the house or runs under a walkway.
What our plumber does once the water is off
We open the wall, ceiling or crawlspace only as wide as needed to reach sound pipe on both sides of the break. Copper gets cut back to clean metal and joined with new copper and soldered or press fittings. Galvanized gets cut out and transitioned to copper or PEX with a dielectric or approved transition fitting so the old and new metal do not corrode each other.
For PEX, a failed fitting or a section damaged by a nail or screw gets replaced with new pipe and crimp or expansion fittings. Underground breaks in the yard get dug out by hand near other utilities, repaired, and backfilled once the test holds.
- Split copper replaced with new copper and fittings
- Rusted galvanized nipples cut out and transitioned
- Nail-punctured or failed PEX sections replaced
- Burst washer and water heater connectors swapped
- Cracked yard service lines dug out and repaired
Finding the reason the pipe failed
Patching a burst without asking why it happened is how the same house calls again in two months. We check static pressure with a gauge on a hose bib, look at the pipe we removed for internal rust or pitting, and check the condition of the fittings on either side of the repair.
If the cut section is mostly rust and the rest of the house is the same galvanized pipe, we tell you plainly. Our article on deciding between a patch and a repipe lays out how to think about that choice.
Drying out and closing up after the repair
Once the new pipe holds under pressure, we leave the wall or ceiling opening clean and ready for drywall. Wet drywall, insulation and subfloor need to dry before they are closed, and a large soak may need professional drying equipment so mold does not start in the cavity.
Take photos of the damage, the opened wall and the failed pipe before anything is thrown away. If water traveled beyond what is visible, a moisture check with our leak detection tools can show how far it went inside walls or under flooring.
On the job
Steps in a burst pipe repair
- STEP1
Shut off and drain
We confirm the main valve is closed, open low fixtures to relieve pressure, and cut power to any wet electrical circuits.
- STEP2
Open to sound pipe
We cut an access opening large enough to reach undamaged pipe on both sides of the break.
- STEP3
Replace the section
The failed section is removed and replaced with new copper or PEX and the right transition fittings.
- STEP4
Pressure test
Water is restored slowly and the repair is checked under full pressure, along with the nearby fittings.
- STEP5
Check the cause
We measure house pressure and look at the removed pipe so you know whether more failures are likely.
Burst pipes in Los Angeles housing, from bungalows to hillside homes
Pre-war bungalows and 1950s houses throughout the city still carry galvanized lines that are well past their expected life. Houses on hillside lots and in canyon neighborhoods often sit on high street pressure, which strains every joint when a regulator fails. The 1994 Northridge earthquake broke pipes across the Valley, and some repairs from that period used quick fixes that are now aging. Freezing is a real risk only in places like the Antelope Valley and the mountain communities. In older apartment buildings near downtown and down in San Pedro, a single burst riser can affect several units at once.
Typical pricing
Burst pipe repair costs in Los Angeles
Cost depends on where the break is, what the pipe is made of, how much has to be opened to reach it, and whether it happens after hours.
| Job | Typical LA range |
|---|---|
| Burst pipe repair in an accessible wall, crawlspace or garage | $350 to $900 |
| Galvanized section cut out and transitioned to copper or PEX | $450 to $1,200 |
| Burst pipe inside a finished ceiling under a bathroom | $600 to $1,500 |
| Underground service line break between meter and house | $800 to $2,500 |
These are typical ranges, not a quote, and the price changes with after-hours timing, pipe depth, access, and how many fittings need replacing. See every job in our LA price guide.
Questions we hear
Burst Pipe Repair questions from LA customers
What should I do right after a pipe bursts in my Los Angeles home?
Close the main water valve, usually near the front hose bib, and turn off electricity to any wet area. Open a low faucet to drain the lines and move valuables out of the water. Then call us. Our guide to what to do in those first fifteen minutes walks through every step in order.
Can a burst galvanized pipe be repaired, or does the whole line need replacing?
A single failed section of galvanized can be cut out and replaced with copper or PEX using proper transition fittings. That stops the leak. If the pipe we remove is badly rusted inside, the rest of the system is likely similar, and more failures are probable. We show you the removed pipe so you can judge it yourself.
How fast can a burst pipe be fixed during the night in LA?
Most burst pipes in a reachable wall, crawlspace or garage are repaired in one to three hours once we are on site. Underground or slab breaks take longer and sometimes get a temporary isolation overnight so the rest of the house has water, with the full repair finished the next day.
Why did my pipe burst when nothing seemed wrong the day before?
Pipes usually fail after years of hidden wear. Internal rust, thinning copper or a fitting under constant high pressure can look fine from outside until the last bit of metal gives out. A sudden pressure spike, such as a valve closing quickly, can be the final push. We check pressure after every burst for that reason.
Coverage
Where we handle burst pipe repair most
These are the communities that call us for this most often, with their main ZIP codes. The same 24/7 line covers every one of our 68 service areas.
- Los Angeles 90014
- Long Beach 90802
- Santa Clarita 91355
- Glendale 91205
- Pasadena 91101
- Torrance 90503
- Downey 90241
- Burbank 91502
- Reseda 91335
- Sylmar 91342
- Pacoima 91331
- Panorama City 91402
- North Hills 91343
- San Pedro 90731
- Granada Hills 91344
- Inglewood 90301
- El Monte 91731
- West Covina 91790
- Anaheim 92805
- Santa Ana 92701
- Whittier 90601
Often booked together
Related plumbing work
Whole-House Repiping
Whole-house repiping for Los Angeles homes with corroded galvanized or pinholing copper, using copper or PEX routed through attics and walls instead of the slab.
See the detailsShutoff Valve Replacement
Replacement of seized or leaking main shutoffs and fixture stop valves, swapping old gate and multi-turn valves for quarter-turn ball valves.
See the detailsMain Water Line Replacement
Replacement of the private water service line between the meter and your house, in copper or approved plastic, by trenching or trenchless pull methods.
See the detailsNeed burst pipe repair today?
Call the line any hour. A plumber answers, asks what you are seeing and tells you what happens next.