pipe burst in apartment
A burst pipe in an apartment is loud, fast and frightening: water spraying from under a sink, pouring from a wall, or running across the floor from behind the toilet. In a New York building it is also a shared problem, because the water does not stay in your apartment. This article covers the first hour, who to tell, and what has to happen afterwards so the walls and floors dry properly.
NYC Water Damage Repair is an independent referral service, not a restoration company or a plumber. When you send the form, your details go to an independent local restoration provider serving New York City, who can contact you, inspect and quote any work directly. You decide whether to hire them.
The first hour
- Shut the nearest valve. Under the sink, behind the toilet, behind the washing machine or at the dishwasher. Turn clockwise.
- If there is no valve or it will not close, call the super at once. In many apartment buildings the line and riser valves are the building’s, behind access panels or in the basement.
- Keep away from wet electrics. The CDC’s guidance is to switch off power only from a dry place, and never to turn power on or off, or use an electric tool or appliance, while standing in water. If an air conditioner, a lamp or a power strip is wet, leave it off.
- Tell the apartment below. Their ceiling is next. A quick knock saves them, and you, a lot of trouble.
- Move what you can off the floor and away from the wet wall.
- Photograph the pipe, the water and the damage before cleanup.
- Start getting it dry. Towels and a wet-dry vacuum for small amounts of clean water; extraction equipment for more. The page on emergency water removal in NYC explains it.
How do you know a pipe has burst?
Sometimes it is obvious. Other times the signs are quieter: the sound of running water with every tap off, a sudden drop in pressure, a wall that is wet and cold to the touch, paint bubbling at the baseboard, or water appearing in the apartment below. If you suspect a pipe inside a wall, see leak detection in NYC.
What causes a pipe to burst in an apartment
- A flexible supply line to a sink, toilet or washing machine that wore out or kinked.
- A pipe in an outside wall or an unheated space that froze.
- An old valve or joint that finally let go, often after work on the building’s system.
- Corrosion in older piping.
Who fixes the pipe, and who fixes the damage
The trade standard for water damage, the IICRC S500, puts determining and correcting the cause on the property owner, not the restorer. In an apartment building, that usually means the building’s plumber fixes building pipes, and a plumber you or your landlord hire fixes the lines inside the unit, depending on the building’s documents. The drying and repair of walls and floors is the restoration provider’s work.
Is a tenant responsible for a water leak?
That depends on the lease and the cause, and this site cannot give legal advice. The city’s rules on owners are clear on one point: the Health Department says owners of buildings with three or more apartments must keep tenants’ homes free of mold, including safely repairing underlying problems like water leaks. HPD says tenants should notify the landlord of a leak, and if it is not fixed, file a complaint online or call 311.
After the pipe is fixed
A fixed pipe is not a dry apartment. Water from a burst pipe soaks into the bottom of the drywall, under baseboards and into the subfloor, and EPA’s guidance is to dry water-damaged areas and items within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold growth. Expect a provider to take moisture readings, remove what cannot be dried, and run air movers and dehumidifiers until the readings are dry. If the water was from a drain or a toilet rather than a supply pipe, EPA advises a professional experienced with contaminated water, and the S500 calls for cleaning before drying.
Is it safe to use the air conditioner?
Not if the unit, its outlet or its cord is wet, or if water is near it. Leave it off and unplugged from a dry spot until it has dried out and been checked.
For the full drying and repair, see water damage restoration in NYC.
Questions people ask
What do I do first when a pipe bursts in my apartment?
Shut the nearest valve, or get the super to shut the line. Keep away from wet electrics, tell the apartment below, photograph everything, then start getting it dry.
Who pays for a burst pipe in an apartment?
It depends on which pipe failed and on your building’s documents or lease. Get the plumber’s note on the cause in writing and ask the managing agent or landlord.
How long does it take to dry after a burst pipe?
It depends on how much got wet and the materials. Drying runs until moisture readings reach the dry target; EPA’s aim is to dry within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold.
Water coming in?
Tell us where it is coming from and a local provider can contact you.
NYC Water Damage RepairFive boroughs