Water is spreading across the floor, you’ve made the call, and now you’re waiting. Those next 20 to 30 minutes aren’t downtime. Water moves fast, and the damage it causes in that window can outpace the cost of the original repair. Saturated flooring, soaked drywall, and moisture trapped in wall cavities can begin supporting mold growth within 24 to 48 hours. What you do right now determines how much of that damage you prevent.

Here in Spokane, burst and frozen pipe emergencies spike every January and February when freeze-thaw cycles hit attics, crawl spaces, and exterior walls hard. During a deep freeze in late 2022, the Spokane Fire Department handled over 60 frozen pipe calls in just 48 hours, and local plumbing services fielded more than 300 emergency calls during that same cold snap. We’ve built Shaw Plumbing Heating & Air Conditioning around exactly these moments, with 24/7 emergency availability so a trained technician can be on the way while you work through the steps below.

Step 1: Shut Off the Water at the Source

The fastest way to stop water from spreading is to cut it off at the closest point to the problem. Check for a fixture-level shutoff valve before reaching for the main supply. These small valves sit under sinks, behind toilets, and at washing machine wall connections. Turning one off stops flow to that fixture without cutting water to the rest of the house.

If the source is a burst pipe, you can’t locate the fixture valve, or water is coming from inside a wall, go straight to the main shutoff. In most Spokane-area homes, it’s near the water meter, along a basement wall, or set into an exterior wall where the supply line enters the structure. Turn it clockwise until it stops. Once it’s closed, open the lowest faucet in the home to drain remaining pressure from the lines and reduce the chance of additional leakage while you wait.

Step 2: Turn Off the Water Heater

With the main supply shut off, your water heater has no incoming water to regulate its temperature. Without that flow, the tank can overheat or build dangerous pressure. For a gas water heater, set the thermostat to the pilot position. For an electric model, cut power at the breaker. Both take less than a minute and protect the unit while the supply is off.

Step 3: Address Electrical Hazards Before Touching Standing Water

Water near electrical outlets, appliances, or panel boxes is more immediately dangerous than the water damage itself. Before you step into standing water or begin any cleanup, check what the water has reached. If it’s near outlets, under appliances that are still plugged in, or approaching the electrical panel, shut off power to that area at the breaker first.

Don’t assume the water isn’t deep enough to matter. Even a thin layer connecting a live outlet to a grounded surface creates a hazard. Cut the power, then address the water.

Step 4: Contain the Water & Protect Your Home

Once electrical safety is handled, move quickly. Towels and mops work for smaller volumes; a wet/dry vacuum moves standing water much faster if you have one. For larger areas, prioritize getting water off flooring before it soaks through to the subfloor or into grout lines. Here’s a quick checklist for protecting your belongings while you contain the spread:

Rugs and soft furnishings: Pull them out of the wet area entirely. They absorb and hold moisture against the floor underneath.
Electronics and documents: Move them to a dry room immediately.
Heavy furniture that can’t be moved: Slide aluminum foil or small wood blocks under the legs to lift them off the wet surface.
Airflow: Open windows if conditions allow and run fans to slow the moisture buildup that leads to mold.

What Not to Do While You Wait

A few common instincts actually make things worse. Knowing what to avoid is as useful as knowing what to do.

Chemical Drain Cleaners
Pouring drain cleaner into a backed-up or leaking line during an active emergency won’t help. These products can damage pipe walls, react dangerously with standing water, and leave a hazardous residue the technician has to work around. Leave them on the shelf.

Open Flames Near Frozen Pipes
Outdoor hose bibs and irrigation lines that weren’t properly winterized are among the most common burst pipe calls we get in Spokane. If you suspect a frozen pipe, don’t reach for a blowtorch or propane heat gun. The City of Spokane’s Water Department explicitly advises against open-flame thawing and recommends only low-heat sources (like a hair dryer or heating pad on a low setting) to gradually warm the pipe. An open flame risks fire, and if the pipe has already burst behind the freeze point, thawing it without shutting off the supply first floods the wall cavity.

DIY Disassembly
Tightening fittings beyond hand-tight, removing pipe sections, or attempting to recut and rejoin lines without the right tools often widens the break. If you have plumber’s tape and the leak is at a joint, wrapping it as a temporary measure is reasonable. Beyond that, leave the pipes alone until the technician arrives.

Document the Damage & Prepare for the Plumber’s Arrival

Before you start absorbing water or moving damaged materials, photograph everything. Capture the affected area, any visible pipe damage, standing water depth, and saturated surfaces. This documentation supports a homeowners insurance claim; standard policies cover sudden and accidental water damage in many cases, though the specifics vary by policy.

Note when you first noticed the problem, what you believe the source is, and what steps you’ve already taken. That information helps the arriving technician assess the situation and get to work faster. Finally, clear the path: move stored items from under the affected sink, out of the basement area, or away from the wall where the pipe is located so the technician can reach the problem the moment they arrive.

The steps above limit the damage, but they don’t fix the underlying problem. That’s what our team is for. Shaw Plumbing Heating & Air Conditioning is available around the clock for plumbing emergencies throughout the Spokane Valley. If you haven’t called yet, reach us at (509) 642-6166.