Winter is harsh on plumbing. Working to prevent frozen pipes is always a primary concern during the cold, but sometimes this isn’t possible or for some reason fails to prevent pipes from bursting. The polar cold that has gripped the U.S and Canada over the past month has created conditions where frozen pipes may be difficult to avoid. When pipes freeze, they can easily burst and lead to expensive water damage. What’s worse, you may not immediately realize that a pipe has burst–especially if you are away from home for a period. Typically, a lack of water pressure and/or leaking water somewhere in the home can be indicative of a burst pipe. If you notice something like this, there are a few steps you can take to begin addressing the problem and preventing the damage from getting worse.

First, shut off the water at the main water line in your home. If you notice a good deal of water accumulation in an area around electronics or appliances, you may want to shut off the power to that area as well. Once the water is shut off you can work on addressing the specific pipe that has burst and begin to contain the water damage–even if the pipe is still frozen. If the water is heated, you should close the hot water valve on the water heater as well. Once you’ve found the problem, you will likely have to replace the burst pipe. Unless you have experience replacing plumbing, you probably want to call a professional plumber and get the job done right.

If your home sustained serious water damage, you should call your insurance company and file a claim. Make sure to take a detailed inventory of everything that sustained damage and be prepared to recount how the pipe burst and a timeline of events. Typically, water damage caused by burst pipes is covered under an average insurance policy, while flooding and water damage resulting from heavy rains often requires additional flood insurance. The best thing to do is review and understand your policy before a pipe bursts, but even after the fact, contact the insurance company and file a claim for any serious damages incurred. Always address water damage as soon as possible and get the pipe fixed quickly to restore water service to your home.