Dealing with a burst pipe emergency can be one of the most stressful experiences a homeowner faces. When you find water gushing everywhere from a damaged pipe, your mind may go blank. Nobody has to teach you how to tell if you have a burst pipe, but you must learn what to do during a burst pipe emergency. Acting quickly is crucial, so make sure you have the number of a 24 hour plumber on your speed dial. A burst pipe can happen anywhere in your home, whether it’s a hot water pipe burst in your basement or a cold water line in your walls. The faster you get it repaired, the lower the damage to your belongings will be.
Sometimes, a burst pipe is not obvious. You might notice water pooling where it shouldn’t be or more subtle signs like unexplained spikes in your water bill, water stains on ceilings, or the sound of running water when all faucets are off. Preparing and knowing the right steps to take when you suspect a damaged water pipe can minimize the damage. This article explains the essential steps to take in the event of a burst pipe, from immediate measures to calling a professional. Understanding how to handle a burst pipe situation can give you peace of mind when disaster strikes.
A lot of people do not know a lot about water pipes. However, water pipes are extremely important. Without them, you would not be able to use water in your home or office building. You need water pipes to be able to wash your hands, brush your teeth, shower, and even drink water in some cases. This is why it is good to make sure that they are functioning properly.
If you do not know a lot about water pipes, you might have many questions. For example, you might wonder, what exactly should I do if I have a burst pipe? What should I do if I need to get a plumber for a burst pipe? How much does plumbing pipe repair cost? What are some reasons pipes burst? What should I do if I have a water pipe burst behind a wall? What happens if I have a water pipe burst inside the house? If you want to know the answers to these questions and more, you can generally talk to a plumber and see what he or she has to say. Sometimes, they can answer your questions, and sometimes they will be able to come to your home and help you figure out and fix the problem.
Every day, water pipes break around the United States. In fact, so many home water pipes and lines fail that every year nearly 1.26 trillion gallons of sewage that has yet to be treated are spilled. Dealing with a burst water line can be a nightmare for homeowners but it does not have to be. Here are a few tips and tricks you can use to help you deal with burst sewage lines and pipes.
- Shut off the water. The first thing you need to do when this happens is to get to the water main. If you are not sure where the water valve is and you own the property, a good place to start looking is the basement. Other places to check are near your water heater, crawlspace, and basement.
- Shut off the power to the area. If there is any chance that the burst water line may have gotten to any of the power outlets in your home, you should get to the fuse box and shut off the power supply to the area or your entire home. Note: this is not something everyone has to do.
- Next, the system needs to be drained. Whenever you do this, the cold water taps should be dealt with first. After you have turned off the water, there is still some throughout the system. You need to get it all out before you begin any work. This means that the toilets need to be flushed at least a few times, the showers, and faucets need to be dealt with.
- Drain the hot water. It is the cold water that sticks around in the pipes after the water supply has been turned off. Go to the water heater and turn it off. Now you can go around and drain all of the hot water taps in your home.
- Heat up the pipes. If your burst water line has broken during the colder months, you need to raise the temperature of the pipes before you move on. Many pipe bursting contractors say that cold weather is one of the top causes of these problems. You can do this by using a blow dryer to heat up the pipe you are going to work on. Some people find success using a heating pad. Others just crank up the heat to the entire house.
- Start the cleanup process early. Even before the plumber can get to your home, you need to get as much water up a possible. Mold and mildew spores are all around us all of the time and it takes very little time for them to take hold and start to wreak havoc. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has identified more than two thousand kind of mold and none of them are good. Left alone, mold can cause more damage to your home than the water itself.
- Document everything. Take pictures and video at every stage of the process. If you can get images of the burst water line, do it! Most of the time, photo and video taking has to wait until the problem has been contained. You should not throw away or remove anything from the area until you have documentation. You will need this for your insurance company. The more evidence you have, the more you can get from your insurance carrier.
There are things you can do to prevent a crisis from happening. Here are a few of them:
- Check out your system on a regular basis. That can help you find problems with your pipe when they are small and easy to deal with. Fix any problem you find as soon as you possibly as you can.
- Keep your pipes warm. If you have pipes outside, you can get insulation that will protect them from getting too cold. If you go away or are dealing with a property that is unoccupied for a period of time, set the thermostat so the pipes will never get to the freezing point. It is much cheaper to heat your house to above freezing than to deal with a burst water line or a resulting flood.
No one likes dealing with burst water lines. These tips can help deal with them and avoid needing sewer line repairs.
