Nobody likes plumbing dilemmas, and a leaking pipe or broken water heater can sour anyone’s day. These issues are nothing compared to the hassle that comes from a burst water main, however. For this matter, you will almost certainly want to call a professional plumber—and you’ll want to do it as quickly as possible.

Make no mistake: This is a true plumbing "emergency," and should be addressed as soon as possible. Of course, you’ll want to shut off the water supply, if you are able, both to prevent damage to your home and also to prevent your hard-earned money from literally leaking out and washing away! You’ll also want to try to get a plumber to your home as quickly as possible.

With that said, you’ll also want to ensure that you find a plumber who isn’t trying to take advantage of your hard luck. This is a plumbing matter that is somewhat famous for giving dishonest handymen a chance to jack up their prices. You should be vigilant against any potential scams. For instance, be wary of any plumber who says his fee will be high because he’ll have to spend time looking for the water main. While this may be true in a few scattered cases, the water main is generally going to be marked, or have a valve on the curb that provides a clear idea of where the pipes fall.

Where you will run into a higher fee is in the digging. Assuming the leak is in an area underground, a plumber may have to spend as much as half a day digging up the pipes. This, of course, is going to drive up their fee, and there’s really nothing you can say or do to change that.

Hopefully, this is something you’ll never have to deal with. If you have PVC pipes, you honestly shouldn’t have any leaks—unless there is construction going on that accidentally damages the pipes. If you have copper pipes, though, they may eventually break down and cause problems.

Regardless, know that a burst water main qualifies as a plumbing emergency. It may be costly to repair, but it will be even more costly if you let it go for too long and it ends up damaging your home. Attend to this matter promptly—without letting anyone take advantage of you!