When a copper pipe fails, shut off the water at the main, open a low faucet to relieve pressure and keep power away from the wet area. Then call a plumber. A local plumber comes to you, finds the failure and either repairs the section or tells you the pipe is done. You can start that on the quote page, and for the larger picture see repiping a house in Los Angeles.
What should you do first when a copper pipe bursts or sprays?
Shut off the water at the main valve, usually where the line enters the house or at the meter, then open the lowest faucet to drain the lines. Turn off the water heater if the leak is on the hot side. Stay clear of wet electrical outlets and appliances, and cut power at the panel if water is near them.
Move belongings and furniture out of the wet area, photograph the damage for insurance and mop what you can. If you cannot find the main valve or it will not turn, call the plumber and your water utility. A full-flow leak can put a lot of water through a wall in a short time, which is why the shutoff matters more than anything else.
If you smell gas anywhere, leave the building, call SoCalGas at 1-800-427-2200 from outside and call 911 if there is danger. Water and gas problems can overlap after an earthquake or a failed fitting.
If the pipe is spraying, do not stand under it near a ceiling light. Wet drywall can drop. The steps for any burst line are also covered in what to do for a burst water pipe.
What does a plumber do for an emergency copper repair?
The plumber finds the failure, cuts out the damaged section and joins in new copper with solder or press fittings, or uses a repair coupling on an accessible pipe. They then restore the water, check for leaks and check the pressure. A quick job on an open pipe can take an hour or two, and one in a wall takes longer.
If the pipe is inside a wall or ceiling, the plumber needs an opening, which means cutting drywall. That is why the patching question matters. Whether a repair needs a permit depends on its scope, since replacing or changing supply piping does need one, and the plumber will tell you which applies. If the leak is a small pinhole, see how to repair a pinhole leak in copper pipe.
California requires a licensed plumbing contractor for permit work, and for plumbing jobs above a small dollar threshold. Check the license at the California Contractors State License Board at cslb.ca.gov.
Can you fix a copper pipe emergency yourself?
For a short time, yes: a rubber-and-clamp repair kit, a push-on repair coupling or epoxy putty can hold a small leak on an accessible straight section until the plumber arrives. Treat it as a stopgap. Do not try to solder a wet pipe, and do not work near electricity or gas.
A clamp on a pinhole buys hours or days, not years, and the cause of the failure is still in the pipe. Do not hide a leak behind a patch and leave it. Water can run inside a wall for weeks before a stain shows, which brings mold and rot. If the pipe is in a wall or under a slab, shut the water off and wait for the plumber.
For leak repair that is safe for an owner to try, see copper pipe leak repair. Anything that changes piping inside walls needs a plumber.
What does emergency copper pipe repair cost?
A repair on an accessible pipe costs a small fraction of a repipe, and more when the pipe is in a wall, needs drywall opened, or the visit is after hours. We could not source a reliable Los Angeles repair price, so ask for the figure before the plumber starts. A full repipe, if the pipe is finished, runs about $4,000 to $18,000 for a typical house, per published guides.
The quote depends on where the pipe is, how far the plumber has to open, how many joints fail and whether the visit is outside normal hours. Ask what the call-out fee is before the plumber comes, and ask whether it applies to the repair. For ordinary rates and call-out charges see the page on what a plumber costs. For emergencies in general, the page on emergency plumber explains what to ask.
We do not promise response times. A local plumber confirms availability when you call.
When does an emergency copper repair mean you need a repipe?
When the leak is the third in a year, the pipe is thin or pitted where it was cut, the water has been green or blue-stained, or other pinholes are showing up in other rooms. One burst from a freeze or a damaged pipe is a repair. A system that keeps failing is a repipe.
Copper pinholes can come from water chemistry, flow, installation errors and age. LADWP's hardness runs from about 9 grains per gallon in the Valley and Western Los Angeles to about 16 in Eastern Los Angeles and the Harbor, per its 2022 figures, and the utility says it is expanding chloramine. Some contractor sources link copper pinholes to aggressive water, though the cause differs by house, so ask the plumber to cut a section and look inside.
If the plumber recommends a repipe, ask for a written quote with the permit and patching spelled out. The signs and causes are laid out on the page about why repipe a house, and the material comparison on PEX versus copper.
Common questions
How do I find the main water shutoff in my Los Angeles house?
Look where the water line enters the house, often on the street side near a hose bib, in the garage, at the meter box or by the water heater. It is a gate valve with a round handle or a ball valve with a lever. Find it before you need it and make sure it turns.
Should I turn off the water heater if a hot pipe leaks?
Yes, if the leak is on the hot side and the water supply to the heater is off. Turn off the heater's power or gas control so it does not run dry. If you smell gas, leave the building and call SoCalGas at 1-800-427-2200 from outside.
Does homeowners insurance cover a burst copper pipe?
Often it covers sudden water damage but not the repair of the pipe itself or long-term leaks. Policies differ, so read yours and call the insurer early. Photograph everything, keep receipts and keep damaged items until the adjuster has seen them. Our page on pipe burst insurance goes deeper.
Can a copper pipe repair wait until morning?
Only if the water is off and the leak has stopped. A small drip at an accessible joint with the supply shut off can wait. A leak inside a wall or ceiling, or one near electrical, should not. If the water has to stay on, a stopgap clamp is not a repair.
Do I need a permit for a copper pipe repair in Los Angeles?
It depends on the scope. Replacing or changing supply piping needs a LADBS plumbing permit and an inspection, and a repipe always does. Ask the plumber whether your repair falls under it, and confirm with LADBS if you are unsure.