Water spraying from a basement pipe, a ceiling dripping after a cold night, a puddle spreading across the floor: what you do in the next few minutes decides how much of your home gets wet. The short answer: get away from any water near electrical, shut off your main water valve, then call a plumber. This guide walks you through the first 10 minutes, step by step.
Water coming in right now? Call 513-574-0025, 24 hours a day. Geiler plumbers serve Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky and Southeastern Indiana.
The steps depend on what you're seeing.
| What you see | What it likely means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Water spraying, dripping, or pooling from a pipe, wall, or ceiling | A pipe has split, or a joint has failed | Follow the 10-minute checklist below, starting with safety |
| No water, or only a trickle, from a faucet on a cold morning | A frozen pipe that may not have split yet | Go to "If the pipe is frozen but not leaking" below |
| A leak that starts on the first warmer day after a freeze | Ice split the pipe; the leak shows once the ice melts | Treat it as a burst pipe and shut off the water |
| Water bubbling up in your yard, the sidewalk or the street | Often a utility main or service line, not your indoor plumbing | Call your water utility (numbers below), then call us if water is getting inside |
The Northern Kentucky Water District says that if you turn on a faucet and only a trickle comes out, you should suspect a frozen pipe.
Water and electricity don't mix. Check these before you start the steps:
If none of these apply, move on to Step 1.
Turning off the main water valve is the most important thing you can do. Until it's closed, water keeps pouring out of the broken pipe.
Where to find it: In most Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky homes with a basement, the main shutoff sits where the water line comes through the foundation wall, near the water meter. The Northern Kentucky Water District says the main valve is usually along a basement wall next to the water meter or where the supply line enters the building. In homes without a basement, check a utility room, a crawl space access point, or near the water heater.
How to close it:
Can't find it, or it won't turn? Call us at 513-574-0025 and tell the dispatcher. Our dispatcher can help you look for the valve over the phone.
Do this today if nothing's leaking yet: find your main shutoff, make sure it turns, and hang a tag on it. During a burst pipe isn't the time to go looking for it.
If water has reached outlets, light fixtures, appliances, or anything plugged in, turn off those circuits at the breaker panel, or the main breaker. Do this only if the panel and the floor in front of it are dry. The CDC warns never to turn power on or off while standing in water, and to have an electrician check the system before you turn power back on.
With the main water off, your water heater stops getting fresh water. Greater Cincinnati Water Works advises that if pipes split, you should turn off the water and your water heater right away.
Open cold-water faucets around the house, starting with the lowest one, such as a basement laundry sink or an outdoor spigot. Flush the toilets. This drains the water still in the pipes, so less ends up on your floor. Opening faucets reduces the pressure on any water still in your pipes.
Call 513-574-0025. Tell the dispatcher:
Geiler plumbers are dispatched from their own homes around the region, not from one central shop, so help is often closer than you'd think.
Cincinnati → /emergency-plumber-in-cincinnati
Northern Kentucky → /emergency-plumber-in-northern-kentucky
A frozen pipe hasn't necessarily split, but it could be split under the ice. When the ice melts, that's when the water comes out.
Call a plumber instead if you can't find the frozen section, it's inside a wall or ceiling, or it won't thaw. Those are the situations where the Red Cross says to call a licensed plumber.
Call 513-574-0025 now if:
- water is spraying, or a leak doesn't stop after you close the main
- you can't find the main shutoff, or it won't close
- water has reached outlets, the electrical panel, your furnace or your water heater
- a ceiling is sagging, stained or dripping
- the frozen pipe is inside a wall, ceiling or crawl space you can't safely reach
- no faucets in the house have water, and it's below freezing
- you're away from home and a neighbor or an alarm reports water
Geiler trucks are fully stocked, so we can finish many repairs in one visit.
If water is coming up outside, in your yard, the sidewalk or the street, the break may be on the utility's side. Greater Cincinnati Water Works takes leak and break reports at 513-591-7700, 24 hours a day, and notes that the property owner is responsible for the service line and plumbing on private property. In Northern Kentucky, contact the Northern Kentucky Water District at (859) 578-9898.
If the break is inside your home or on your side of the meter, call us.
Most burst pipes start as frozen pipes. A few steps now lower the risk:
"6 Ways To Keep Your Pipes from Freezing"
Geiler has been the plumber Cincinnati-area families call since 1885. We're a fourth-generation, woman-owned company, and our licensed, union-trained plumbers answer emergency calls day and night.
Is a burst pipe an emergency?
Yes. A burst pipe can flood your home in minutes. That water can reach wiring, soak drywall and flooring, and lead to mold. Shut off the main water valve and call a plumber right away, day or night.
Should I turn off my water if a pipe is frozen but not leaking?
It's a good precaution. Cold-weather guidance reported by LINK nky advises shutting off the main and opening indoor faucets if pipes may be frozen, so there's less flooding if one splits. If you're thawing a pipe yourself, keep the faucet it feeds open, and be ready to close the main.
Why did the leak start after it warmed up?
Water expands as it freezes, which can split a pipe. While the water is still frozen, the ice plugs the split. When it thaws, the water comes out. That's why many burst pipes show up on the first warmer day after a cold snap.
Can I turn the water back on once the leak stops?
Not until the pipe is repaired. A leak that stops is often still there; the line may just have drained. Leave the main off until a plumber has fixed and tested the line.
Water is coming up in my yard. Who do I call?
Call your water utility first: Greater Cincinnati Water Works at 513-591-7700, or the Northern Kentucky Water District at (859) 578-9898. If the break is on your property, or water is getting inside, call Geiler at 513-574-0025.
Do you answer at night in Northern Kentucky?
Yes. Our 513-574-0025 number covers Northern Kentucky too, and reaches the same dispatch team, 24/7.