Burst Pipes Westwood NJ - 24/7 Emergency Repair Service
Fast Response When Your Home's Flooding at 3 AM
My phone rang at 3:47 AM last January. Water shooting across a basement like a firehose on Kinderkamack Road. By the time I got there, two inches of water covered everything. Their water heater intake pipe had split from that brutal freeze we had.
That's burst pipes for you. They dont wait for convenient times. When a pipe bursts in your Westwood home, every second means more damage. We've been racing to these calls at H. Hofmeister & Co. for 60 years. The difference between calling immediately and waiting til morning? Usually thousands in extra damage.
Here to Help 24/7
H. Hofmeister & Co. Inc. Plumbing Heating AC Sewer Serving Bergen County, Nj
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Why Pipes Burst in Bergen County Homes
Our houses in Westwood weren't all built yesterday. Some pipes in your walls are 50, 60, even 80 years old. Mix that with New Jersey winters that hit negative temps, and you got a recipe for midnight disasters.
Common Causes We See Daily
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Frozen pipes in outside walls nobody thought to insulate
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Old copper giving up after decades of service
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Water pressure that's been too high for years
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Corroded joints finally splitting open
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Tree roots crushing underground lines
Last week we fixed five burst pipes between Washington Township and River Vale. Four happened exactly the same - pipes in exterior walls that froze solid. The fifth was 47-year-old copper that just said "I'm done."
What to Do Right Now (Before We Arrive)
Step 1: Shut Your Main Water Valve
Know where it is RIGHT NOW. Most Westwood homes have it in the basement near the front wall or in a first-floor utility closet. Turn clockwise until it stops. This stops feeding water to the disaster.
Step 2: Kill Power to Wet Areas
Water and electricity dont mix. Find your electrical panel. Flip breakers for any rooms getting wet. Can't tell which ones? Kill the main. Better safe than sorry.
Step 3: Call Us Immediately
(201) 666-1118 - We answer 24/7. While you're waiting, grab every towel you own. The fancy guest ones, the beach towels, everything. The more water you soak up now, the less damage later.
Where Pipes Burst Most Often
After 60 years fixing Westwood plumbing, we know the danger zones:
Inside Your House
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Under kitchen sinks near the disposal connection
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Washing machine hoses (those rubber ones fail after 5 years)
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Behind toilets where the supply line connects
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Water heater connections in basements
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Any pipe running through an outside wall
Hidden Disasters
Had a call in Emerson where the pipe burst inside the wall between bathroom and bedroom. Family didn't know til the carpet started squishing. What could've been $400 turned into $4,000 worth of wall replacement and mold remediation.
Attic pipes are worse. Nobody goes up there except for Christmas decorations. We've seen entire ceilings collapse from the weight of collected water.
Immediate Phone Support
We walk you through shutting off water and power while our truck's already rolling. Most panicked homeowners forget both these steps.
Arrival and Assessment
We show up with everything needed - copper fittings, PEX line, shutoff valves, soldering gear. No "I'll have to order parts" nonsense. You got water destroying your house. Tomorrow's not an option.
Fix and Prevent
After stopping the leak, we check for other problems. One burst pipe often means others are ready to go. We test pressure, inspect accessible pipes, look for freeze damage elsewhere.
Call Immediately: $400-800
Simple pipe repair
Minimal water cleanup
Maybe some drywall drying
Wait Until Morning: $2,000-5,000
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Extensive water damage
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Flooring replacement needed
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Drywall and insulation ruined
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Possible mold issues starting
Wait a Full Day: $5,000-15,000+
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Structural damage
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Mold remediation required
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Multiple rooms affected
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Insurance might deny claims
We had a Montvale customer who tried DIY repairs first. By the time he called, his finished basement was destroyed. Insurance covered some, but he still paid $15,000 out of pocket.
Preventing Future Burst Pipes
Winter Protection
Keep house above 55 degrees even on vacation
Insulate pipes in outside walls ($3 per foot beats thousands in damage)
Let faucets drip during freezing temps
Know where your shutoff valve is
Long-Term Solutions
For homes with 40+ year old plumbing, sometimes repiping makes sense. Yeah, it costs upfront. But replacing ancient galvanized pipes before they burst is like changing your timing belt before it snaps. Pay now or pay way more later.
Why Bergen County Homes Are Different
Houses from Closter to Montvale face unique challenges:
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Real basements with exposed pipes
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Freeze-thaw cycles that stress underground lines
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Clay soil that shifts and cracks pipes
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Mix of ancient plumbing and new construction
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Outside walls that get way colder than people realize
Insurance Coverage (And the Catch)
Usually Covered:
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Sudden burst pipe damage
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Water cleanup costs
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Damaged belongings
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Temporary housing if needed
NOT Covered:
Neglect (like no heat during vacation)
Gradual leaks you ignored
Pipes that froze because you didn't maintain heat
Document everything. Photos before we fix anything. Keep our invoices. Insurance companies know H. Hofmeister - we've been doing this since before most adjusters were born.
24/7 Because Disasters Don't Wait
Burst pipes dont care its Christmas morning or Super Bowl Sunday. That's why (201) 666-1118 gets answered every hour of every day. When water's destroying your home, you need someone who shows up fast, fixes it right, and doesn't pretend it needs to cost more than your mortgage.
We're right here in Westwood, know every street from River Vale to Hillsdale, and can probably get to your house faster than pizza delivery. After 60 years, burst pipes are just another Tuesday for us. For you, its an emergency. We treat it that way.
H. Hofmeister & Co. Inc.
Emergency Burst Pipe Repair: (201) 666-1118
115 Bergenline Ave, Westwood, NJ 07675
License #10625 | Serving All Bergen County 24/7