It's the middle of the night. You hear a rushing sound — or worse, you walk into the kitchen and find water spreading across the floor. A burst pipe at 3 AM is one of the most stressful plumbing emergencies a homeowner can face, and in Murray, Utah, winter conditions make it a very real possibility. Knowing exactly what to do in those first chaotic minutes can mean the difference between a quick repair and thousands of dollars in water damage.
Towers Plumbing has been responding to plumbing emergencies across Salt Lake County — including Murray — for over 80 years. Our team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including nights, weekends, and holidays. This guide walks you through what to do the moment a pipe bursts, why it happens in the first place, and how to get help fast.
Step 1: Shut Off the Water Immediately
The very first thing you should do when a pipe bursts is shut off the main water supply to your home. Don't wait. Every second that water flows through a broken pipe adds to the damage.
Your main shutoff valve is typically located:
- In the basement or utility room near the water meter
- Near the front of the house where the main line enters from the street
- In a crawl space or garage
Turn the valve clockwise (righty-tighty) until it stops. If you're not sure where your shutoff valve is, now — before an emergency — is the ideal time to find it and make sure it works. A stuck or corroded valve is common in older Murray homes and can make a bad situation worse.
Step 2: Turn Off the Water Heater
Once the main water is off, go to your water heater and switch it to the "off" or "pilot" setting. If your water heater continues running without water flowing through it, it can overheat and cause additional damage. For electric water heaters, turn off the corresponding circuit breaker in your electrical panel.
Step 3: Drain the Remaining Water
Open all cold water faucets in the house to drain the residual water from the pipes. This reduces pressure and minimizes further leaking from the burst section. Flush toilets several times to empty the lines as well. Avoid running the dishwasher or washing machine until repairs are complete.
Step 4: Call an Emergency Plumber in Murray
Once you've controlled the immediate flow of water, call a licensed 24-hour plumber in Murray right away. Don't wait until morning — water damage compounds quickly. Mold can begin growing within 24 to 48 hours of a moisture event, and structural damage to drywall, flooring, and framing can escalate overnight.
Towers Plumbing's emergency plumbing team is on call around the clock. When you call us at (801) 266-3529, you'll reach a real person — not a voicemail — who can dispatch a licensed plumber to your Murray home fast.
Why Do Pipes Burst at Night (and in Winter)?
Burst pipes aren't random. They tend to happen at night and in winter for predictable reasons, and understanding them can help you prevent the next incident.
Frozen Pipes
Murray sits at roughly 4,300 feet elevation, and winter nights regularly dip below 20°F — cold enough to freeze water inside exposed or poorly insulated pipes. As water freezes, it expands and builds enormous pressure inside the pipe. When that pressure exceeds what the pipe can hold, it bursts — often violently.
The most vulnerable pipes are those in exterior walls, unheated crawl spaces, garages, and under kitchen or bathroom cabinets on exterior walls. Pipes that run through uninsulated attic spaces are also at high risk.
Aging Pipes
Many homes in Murray and the greater Salt Lake County area were built in the 1950s through 1980s, and some still have original galvanized steel or copper piping. These pipes corrode and thin over time, becoming significantly more likely to fail under pressure — especially during the thermal stress of a cold winter night.
Increased Overnight Pressure
Municipal water pressure can fluctuate overnight when usage across the grid drops. This can cause pressure spikes in residential lines, which stresses weakened joints and pipe sections that might hold during normal daily use.
What to Do About Water Damage While You Wait
While you're waiting for your emergency plumber to arrive, there are a few things you can do to limit water damage:
- Mop or blot standing water with towels and move them outdoors or to a sink
- Move furniture and valuables off wet floors or surfaces
- Use fans or open windows if weather permits to begin drying the area
- Take photos and video of all visible damage for your homeowner's insurance claim
- Do not use electrical fixtures or outlets in areas where water has spread — water and electricity are a dangerous combination
If the water appears to be coming from near an electrical panel or has reached outlets and switches, leave the affected area and turn off the corresponding circuits at the breaker box before re-entering.
How Towers Plumbing Handles Emergency Pipe Repairs in Murray
When our team arrives at your Murray home, we'll start with a rapid assessment to identify the burst pipe, confirm the water is fully off, and determine the scope of the repair. Depending on the pipe material and location, we may use a temporary repair clamp to stop the leak immediately, followed by a permanent fix once we have confirmed the rest of the pipe is sound.
We carry a full range of repair materials on every truck, including copper, PEX, and CPVC fittings, so in most cases we can complete the repair in a single visit — even at 3 AM.
As part of our emergency plumbing services, we can also help you identify other at-risk areas so you don't face another burst pipe down the road. We'll check your pipe insulation, water pressure, and shutoff valve condition before we leave.
How to Prevent Burst Pipes in Your Murray Home
Prevention is always less expensive than emergency repairs. Here are the steps Murray homeowners should take before temperatures drop:
Insulate Exposed Pipes
Foam pipe insulation sleeves are inexpensive and easy to install on exposed pipes in crawl spaces, garages, and under sinks on exterior walls. This single step prevents the vast majority of freeze-related bursts.
Keep the Heat On
If you're leaving town in winter, don't turn the heat off entirely. Keep your thermostat at no lower than 55°F to maintain enough warmth in the walls to protect interior pipes. Open cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls to allow heated air to circulate around the plumbing.
Let a Faucet Drip
On the coldest nights (below 20°F), let a cold water faucet drip slightly — particularly on exterior-wall lines. Moving water is much harder to freeze than standing water.
Know Where Your Shutoff Valve Is
As mentioned above: know your main shutoff location before an emergency. Drill it into your memory and make sure every adult in your household knows it too. A burst pipe with a slow shutoff response is exponentially more damaging.
Schedule a Plumbing Inspection
If your home is more than 30 years old and hasn't had a professional plumbing inspection recently, consider scheduling one. Towers Plumbing can identify aging or vulnerable pipe sections before they become emergencies.
Call Towers Plumbing for 24/7 Emergency Plumbing in Murray, UT
A burst pipe at 3 AM doesn't have to become a catastrophe. Acting quickly — shutting off the water, protecting your belongings, and calling a licensed emergency plumber right away — limits the damage dramatically.
Towers Plumbing has been the trusted emergency plumber for Murray, UT residents for generations. We're fully licensed, insured, and available 24/7 — no after-hours surcharge surprises, just fast, professional plumbing service when you need it most.
Call us now at (801) 266-3529. We'll be there.