You can often tell a pipe has burst because water appears suddenly and in larger amounts than a normal drip, sometimes with a hissing or rushing sound. You may also notice a sudden drop in flow at your taps, or water spreading across a floor or through a ceiling.
Some bursts are obvious, but others happen out of sight. A few signs together are usually more telling than one on its own. Acting on them early can limit the damage.
Signs You Can See
The clearest sign is water escaping quickly from a pipe or joint, or water spraying from a split. Out of sight, a burst may show as water spreading across a floor, pouring from a ceiling or appearing under kitchen units.
A damp patch on its own does not prove a pipe has burst. It could come from a slower leak, a waste pipe, a seal or water from outside. The speed and amount of water is often what sets a burst apart.
Signs You Can Hear
A hissing, rushing or running water sound when no taps or appliances are being used can point to water escaping somewhere. Dripping inside a ceiling or wall can also be a sign.
Sounds can travel through pipework, so the noise may not be coming from exactly where you hear it. Banging pipes on their own are a different problem and do not usually mean a pipe has burst.
Changes in Your Water Supply
If water is escaping from a burst, there may be less reaching your taps. You might notice weaker flow, spluttering taps or a toilet cistern that refills slowly.
Weak flow can have other causes, including a problem with the public supply. If neighbours are also affected, the issue may be outside your property. If you have a water meter, a meter that keeps moving while nothing is in use may suggest water is escaping somewhere, but it does not show where.
Burst Pipe or Slow Leak?
A slow leak usually builds up over days or weeks, with drips, staining or damp. A burst tends to be sudden, with more water. In cold weather, a frozen pipe may split but only leak once it thaws, so a problem can appear without warning.
Bursts are also more likely to be found after a cold spell, when a property has been empty, or after work nearby that may have disturbed a pipe. That context can help when you describe the problem.
If you think a pipe has burst, keep clear of any water near electrics. If you know where your stopcock is and it turns normally, turning it off may stop the water while you get help. Do not force it if it is stiff.
Our page on repairing a burst pipe explains what happens once a burst has been found.
If you think a pipe has burst at your property in Poole, a plumber can check the damage and explain the next step.