When a pipe bursts in a Dunwoody home, close the main water valve and switch off power near the water. A plumber can replace the broken section and look for other damage. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Dunwoody.
Dunwoody's established neighborhoods around Dunwoody Village and off Chamblee-Dunwoody and Mount Vernon roads have a lot of 1970s houses: about 28% of all units were built that decade, and about 44% predate 1980. DeKalb County Watershed Management supplies the water and owns the line from the main in the street through the meter. From the meter to the home's plumbing, the line is the owner's. DeKalb's 24-hour emergency repair line is 770-270-6243. Repairs fall under Dunwoody's single-trade component permits, and work may not begin until the permit is issued, though a plumber can stop an active leak first.
Do these things now
- Find the main valve and turn it off. In many homes it sits in the crawl space, basement, garage or a utility closet near the water heater.
- Cut power where water is spreading. Switch off breakers for wet rooms, and stay out of standing water near outlets or appliances.
- Put the water heater on hold: pilot setting for gas, breaker off for electric.
- Take photos and video of the break and the damage before cleanup, for insurance.
- Open a downstairs tap and an outside spigot to empty what is left in the system.
Symptom and likely cause
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Water pouring from a pipe joint | A fitting pushed apart by freezing or high pressure |
| Ceiling stain spreading under a bathroom | Leak in a supply line or fitting above |
| Water bill jump with no change in use | An unnoticed break leaking for weeks |
| Hissing inside a wall | Pressurized leak in a supply pipe |
| Low pressure everywhere, suddenly | A major break on the main line or service line |
Cost factors to expect
- Where the pipe sits. Exposed runs are quick to reach; pipes behind cabinets, tile or ceilings add labor.
- The pipe material. Copper, CPVC and PEX splice in easily, while tying new pipe into old galvanized steel takes more fittings and time.
- Digging. If the failure is on the buried line to the house, the job includes excavation.
- Extra work you choose, such as rerouting a line that keeps freezing or adding pipe insulation and frost-free hose bibs.
- The number of repairs. One crack is a short job; several along an outside wall add up.
- The hour. A middle-of-the-night call costs more than one that can wait for business hours.
Burst Pipe Repair questions in Dunwoody
Does a burst pipe repair need a permit?
How can I find out what my water service line is made of?
Which pipes in a house are most likely to freeze and split?
What should I do with the plumbing before leaving town in winter?
More plumbing services in Dunwoody
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