BURST PIPE REPAIR — 60-90 MINUTE DISPATCH, 24/7

A burst pipe is the definition of a plumbing emergency. Water pouring into drywall, subfloors, and insulation causes damage on a clock that starts ticking the second the pipe breaks. The difference between a $500 repair and a $15,000 water remediation job is usually how fast somebody shuts the water off and how fast a plumber gets there. Mark Johnson & Sons burst pipe dispatch is 60-90 minutes across North Louisiana, 24/7, every night of the year.

Right now, before we get there

1. Shut the water off at the main — usually in the basement where the supply enters the house, front of the house near the meter, or outside next to the water meter. Turn clockwise until stopped. If you don't know where it is, find it now while it's dry — every North Louisiana homeowner should know this before an emergency
2. Open the lowest faucet in the house — drains remaining water out of the pipe and away from the leak
3. Move belongings off the wet floor — electronics, documents, rugs, anything that can be saved from water damage
4. Turn off electricity to wet areas — if water's near outlets, switches, or the breaker panel, flip that breaker
5. Document with photos — for insurance. Take pictures of the burst area, affected belongings, water level, and any visible damage. Photos make adjuster claims much smoother
6. Call Mark Johnson & Sons — the earlier the better, we'll triage over the phone while dispatching

Why pipes burst in North Louisiana

Winter freeze is a common cause. Temperatures in North Louisiana can drop into the low 20s°F, and pipes that run through uninsulated exterior walls, crawl spaces, garages, attics, or outdoor spigots without frost-free valves all have burst risk. Older homes with original galvanized steel plumbing are especially vulnerable — that pipe is corroded internally and snaps under winter pressure. Monroe, Ruston, and Shreveport area homes see freeze-related calls every hard winter.

Corrosion is the other common cause. Homes built 1950-1975 with original galvanized steel supply lines (gray, threaded pipe) are at the end of their lifespan. We see galvanized failures every month — pinhole leaks that go unnoticed for weeks, then a sudden blowout. If your house has original galvanized pipe and you've seen rust-colored water or a pinhole leak already, a full repipe is the permanent solution.

Outdoor hose bibs left pressurized with a hose attached in the fall are the single most common burst pipe call we take in winter. Hose traps water against the spigot, freezes, cracks the pipe behind the wall. Disconnect hoses before first freeze, shut interior valves to outdoor spigots if you have them.

What Mark Johnson & Sons does when we arrive

First job is stopping the water. If the main's already off, good — we isolate and start repair. If not, we shut the main and open drains to relieve pressure. Next is diagnosing the break — a visible burst in a basement ceiling is straightforward. A hidden burst inside a wall requires thermal imaging or acoustic detection to find the exact location before we cut drywall. We find it, open as small a hole as possible, repair the pipe with proper joinery (copper sweat, PEX crimp, SharkBite for emergencies), pressure test, and verify no other leaks on the same line.

Repair vs. replace, and when

A single burst on a 15-year-old copper line? Spot repair. A burst on galvanized pipe that's 50+ years old? Spot repair buys you 3-6 months until the next pinhole — we'll tell you the repipe math before we leave. A frozen PEX line that burst but is otherwise sound? Spot replace the cracked section and insulate the run. We give you the repair-only price and the longer-term replacement price so you decide with full information.

Insurance coordination

Homeowner's insurance typically covers water damage from a sudden accidental burst — drywall, flooring, insulation, belongings. Insurance usually does NOT cover the pipe repair itself (that's maintenance). We document everything — photos, repair description, dry-out needs, affected materials — for your adjuster. Many customers have their claims filed within 24 hours of our arrival.