It is a good idea to shut the water off — no matter where the leak occurred. Be sure to find the shutoff valve ahead of time so you know where to go when a problem occurs. The water should remain off until a plumber is called and provides plumbing repairs.

It may also be necessary to turn off electricity, depending on where the leak occurred — especially if water is near electrical outlets, panels, or appliances.

Once the water main has been shut off, open the faucets in the home. By doing this, it is possible to relieve the pressure that may still be in the pipes. This reduces the force pushing water out of the break and helps minimize further damage.

Unless a homeowner feels like they can tackle the broken pipe alone, they will have to call a plumber eventually. However, there are a few things that can be done before the plumber arrives. These things will help to reduce the overall impact of the broken pipe.

Grab a mop, some towels, buckets, and a wet-dry vac to begin eliminating the water that has come out of the pipes. It is best to make sure this water is eliminated before it soaks into everything in the house.

Also, cleaning everything up quickly is going to reduce the development of mold.

It is a good idea to set up fans to blow some heat into rooms that feel cold. Also, keep the door to the garage closed. If there is minimal water flow, be sure to heat up the pipes that are most vulnerable — these are the ones located close to the home's exterior walls, or in crawl spaces or basements.

In most cases, using a hairdryer will help with this. Also, make sure to leave the faucet open while heat is being applied. As the ice melts, the flow of the water is going to grow.

If there are exposed pipes in pantries or closets, it is a good idea to leave the doors open. Also, open the doors of cabinets or under vanities so that warm air can make it to the pipes under the sinks in the home.

Place a piece of rubber over the leak area. This should be done along with putting a clamp on the pipe that is broken. Remember, installing insulation before winter arrives can also prevent this issue.

If someone is in a hurry and they do not have the tools needed to stop the leak altogether, it is possible to improvise by adding a block of wood over the rubber before the clamp is fastened. The wood is going to spread out the pressure and then keep the pipe from completely collapsing.

Once the rubber and wood are in place, add a C-clamp over the rubber. This is going to provide a temporary seal over the leak until the plumber arrives to perform a permanent repair.

Be sure to shut off the main water supply valve. Then drain the water line that is damaged and use the pipe cutter to remove the pipe that extends approximately one inch past each side of the damaged area.

The first step of this is to hold the pipe in the cutter's jaw and then tighten the cutter's screw. Be sure to rotate the cutter in the proper direction until the pipe snaps.

Once the damaged part of the pipe has been removed, it is possible to replace the damaged area with a new section of pipe. If you are not confident in your plumbing skills, this is the step where calling a professional will save you from further problems.