Burst Pipe at Home: What to Do Right Now (and What It Costs)

The first five minutes

Close the main valve. Turn the handle clockwise until it stops, or a lever until it is across the pipe. If you do not know where it is, see how to find your main water valve — and find it today, before you need it.

If water is near sockets, appliances or light fittings, switch off the electricity at the fuse board. Never touch electrical equipment standing in water.

Open the cold taps to drain the pipes and reduce pressure. If the leak is on the hot side, switch off the water heater.

Limit the damage

Put buckets and towels down, move furniture, rugs and electronics away, and lift what you can off the floor.

Knock on the neighbour below and tell them — water travels fast through floors. Warn the building administrator if shared areas are affected.

Take photos and videos of the leak and the damage before cleaning up. Insurers will ask for them.

Why pipes burst

In Lisbon, frost is rarely the cause. More common are old galvanised iron pipes rusted through, a failed flexible hose under a sink or behind a washing machine, a corroded valve, or a joint that finally gave way under pressure.

Flexible hoses are the classic surprise: they look fine from outside, but the rubber inside perishes with age. Replace them every several years, and always when replacing a tap or appliance.

What the repair involves

A burst flexible hose or valve is a quick repair: replace the part, restore the water, check for other weak points.

A pipe inside a wall or floor means opening at the exact spot, cutting out the damaged section and joining new pipe. In a flat with old iron pipes, one burst is often the first of several — ask whether pipe replacement makes more sense than patching.

What it costs

Simple repairs start from 60 €. Nights, weekends and public holidays cost more, and pipes inside walls take longer than a hose under a sink. We tell you the call-out rate on the phone and the repair price before we start. See how much a plumber costs in Lisbon.

The water damage itself is often covered by home insurance — see water damage insurance claims.

After the repair

Ventilate and dry the area thoroughly; use fans or a dehumidifier. Check under floors and behind skirting boards for trapped water. Wait until walls and ceilings are completely dry before repainting.

Keep the invoice and the plumber's written description of what failed.

Prepare now: a five-minute emergency kit

Know where the main valve is and make sure it turns. Keep a torch near it if it is in a dark cupboard. Save a plumber's number in your phone. Keep a bucket and old towels where you can reach them. Know where the fuse board is and which breaker is for the water heater.

Temporary repairs while you wait

A pipe repair clamp or self-amalgamating tape can slow a small leak on an exposed pipe once the pressure is off. They are temporary — the pipe still needs a proper repair.

Never attempt repairs on gas pipes, and never work on anything electrical that is wet.

Leaks from appliances

Washing machines and dishwashers leak mostly from the inlet hose, the drain hose or the connection behind the machine. Close the valve behind the appliance, unplug it, and pull it out carefully. Replacing an old inlet hose is a quick fix and one of the best preventive measures you can take.

Frequently asked questions