Tag Archives: dealing with a burst pipe

Nov '23

Steps to Take During a Burst Pipe

A burst pipe is a plumbing emergency that can cause significant damage to your home or property. It can lead to water leakage, flooding, and potentially costly repairs. Knowing the correct steps to take during a burst pipe can help you mitigate the damage and minimize the impact on your property. Below we will outline the essential steps to follow when facing a burst pipe situation.

Identify the Burst Pipe

The first step in dealing with a burst pipe is to identify the pipe that has ruptured. This can usually be done by visually inspecting the affected area for signs of water leakage or puddles. Common indicators of a burst pipe include water damage on walls or ceilings, pooling water on the floor, or a sudden drop in water pressure.

Turn Off the Water Supply

As soon as you notice a burst pipe, it is crucial to turn off the main water supply to prevent further flooding and damage. Locate the main water shut-off valve for your property and close it tightly to stop the flow of water. This valve is typically located near the water meter or where the main water pipe enters your home.

burst pipes can lead to flooding in your home.

Common indicators of a burst pipe include water damage on walls or ceilings, pooling water on the floor, or a sudden drop in water pressure.

Open Faucets and Relieve Pressure

After shutting off the main water supply, it is important to open all faucets in your home, including sinks, showers, and bathtubs. This will help relieve the pressure in the pipes and allow any remaining water to drain out. By doing so, you can minimize the extent of water damage and potential flooding.

Drain the Pipes

In order to prevent further water leakage or build-up, it is essential to drain the pipes completely. To drain the pipes, start by flushing toilets and turning on outdoor faucets, if applicable. You can also use buckets or containers to collect any excess water. By effectively draining the pipes, you can prevent additional damage and make it easier for plumbers to repair the burst pipe.

Locate the Source of the Burst

Once the initial steps are taken to minimize damage, it is important to locate the source of the burst pipe. This may require further inspection or the assistance of a professional plumber. Identifying the exact point of the rupture will facilitate the repair process and ensure that the necessary steps are taken to prevent future problems.

Prompt action is crucial to prevent prolonged water exposure and subsequent issues such as mold growth or structural damage.

Contact a Professional Plumber

While you may be able to take some initial steps to mitigate the damage caused by a burst pipe, it is essential to contact a professional plumber as soon as possible. A qualified plumber has the expertise and equipment to effectively repair the burst pipe and evaluate any further damage. Prompt action is crucial to prevent prolonged water exposure and subsequent issues such as mold growth or structural damage.

Document the Damage

It is advisable to document the damage caused by the burst pipe for insurance purposes. Take photographs or videos of the affected areas before any repairs are made. This documentation will serve as evidence of the extent of the damage and help facilitate the insurance claim process. It is important to speak with your insurance provider to understand their specific requirements for documentation.

Initiate the Cleanup and Restoration Process

Once the burst pipe has been repaired, it is crucial to initiate the cleanup and restoration process. This may involve removing any standing water, drying out affected areas, and replacing damaged materials such as drywall or insulation. If the water damage is extensive, you may need to seek the assistance of professional water damage restoration services to ensure thorough and proper cleanup.

Prevention Measures for the Future

After experiencing a burst pipe, it is important to take preventative measures to reduce the risk of future incidents. Some steps you can take include insulating exposed pipes to protect them from freezing, regularly inspecting pipes for signs of wear or corrosion, and scheduling professional maintenance checks to identify potential issues before they escalate.

To Conclude

Dealing with a burst pipe can be a stressful and potentially damaging situation. However, by following the correct steps and taking prompt action, you can minimize the impact and ensure a swift and effective recovery. Remember to identify the burst pipe, turn off the water supply, relieve pressure, drain the pipes, locate the source of the burst, contact a professional plumber, document the damage, and initiate the cleanup and restoration process. Taking preventative measures for the future will further safeguard your property from burst pipe incidents. Stay vigilant, and in the event of a burst pipe, act quickly to mitigate the damage and protect your home.

Nov '22

Emergency Tips from a Plumber: Dealing with a Broken Pipe

What should you do if you have a broken pipe in your home? Broken water pipes in the home often announce their presence in the most destructive ways, warns Haas Property Management. You may not even know there is a problem with your pipes until your home is suddenly flooded by water spilling from a leak.

In the worse cases, you don’t even see any water because the broken pipe is hidden behind a wall. The only indication of the problem is when you start to see mold around the leak area, the paint changes color, or parts of the drywall become soft and start to bulge.

However, broken and burst water pipes are not the only plumbing leaks you can have in the home. Gas pipes can also leak. Although they are not as common as water pipe leaks, gas leaks are much more dangerous. This is because of the fire risk and gas leak suffocation.

If you spot a broken pipe in your home, what can you do to minimize the damage caused by the leak and the inconvenience to your household? The first minutes of discovering a leaking pipe in your home are the most critical; here is what you can do during those times.

Emergency tips for dealing with a broken pipe

What to do if the gas line is leaking

Turn the gas off

If you smell gas in your home, do not attempt to find the source of the leak; turn off the gas. To turn the gas off, locate the gas shutoff valve. It should be right next to the gas meter, the first fitting on the inlet side of the meter. To shut the line, turn the valve until it is at a ninety-degree angle to the pipe (crosswise). You may need a wrench for this operation.

Call your plumber

When dealing with gas leaks, it’s never a good idea to try to locate the leak yourself. Professional plumbers know how to identify and fix a gas leak. If you don’t know how to turn the gas off, call the plumber and have them come to your house immediately or tell you how to turn the gas off over the phone.

If you cannot reach a plumber, your next best option is to call the gas company. The gas company will only turn off your gas; they won’t fix the leak. Moreover, if the gas company turns the gas off, you will need a permit to fix the leak and an inspection before turning it back on. This will cost you money and time.

What to do if a water pipe is broken

Find the main water shutoff valve

It is important to know the location of your main water shutoff valve before you ever have a water leak in your home. Many plumbing fixtures in your home have a dedicated shutoff valve that you can use to stop water flow to that fixture. But the main water shutoff valve controls the water flow to the entire home.

For many homes, the main water shutoff valve is located on the street-facing side of the house, along the property’s perimeter, right after the water meter. Turning this valve until it closes will stop water flow to your home. Everyone in the house should know where this feature is located and how to use it. This is the easiest way to minimize damage to your home if you have a plumbing leak.

Turn off the water supply to the fixture

If you don’t know where the main water shutoff valve is, you can try to turn the water off at the valve near the leaking fixture. This is often only possible when dealing with water heater leaks or a burst pipe emergency. A shutoff valve should be next to your water heater or a ball or gate valve on the wall close to the bathroom. Turning the valve will stop the flow of water or slow it down.

Fix the leak with a rubber pad

If there is a pinhole leak on a copper pipe, but you can’t get a plumber to come over (maybe because it is late in the night), this is what you can do: you can stop the leak temporarily by cutting a piece from a rubber pad and covering the hole with it. Clamp down on the part of rubber by tightening a hose clamp over it. This will let you run your water until you can get your local plumber to repair the leak properly.

Fix the pipe with a compression coupling

This only works for PVC pipes with a small crack in the pipe. To fix the pipe, cut off the affected portion, and slip the compression end and gasket of the coupling onto the two sides of the cut pipe. Install the sleeve from the coupling between the two ends of the cut pipe and seal the joint with the compression ends and gasket.

These are some simple steps you can do in case of a gas or water leak. Knowing what to do during these emergency plumbing situations may save you money and your property from further damage.

Oct '22

How to Survive a Burst Pipe in the Winter

Harsh weather conditions can cause you and your household a lot of trouble. In the winter period, there are so many things to take care of, and your pipes are definitely one of them. Many household owners know how dangerous low temperatures can be, especially when there is no proper insulation on the household pipes. They can freeze and burst, causing great floods and serious property damage. That is why it is wise to get ready and know what to do in case of an emergency. For all those who think in advance, here are several main steps on how to survive a burst pipe in the winter.

The first signs of a problem

There is nothing that can completely save you from the damage when the pipe burst already happens. Still, the sooner you detect the signs of the problem, the less damage you will have to deal with. That’s why it is important to react to the first, even minor signs that something wrong is happening:

Occasional dripping sounds and the lack of water pressure are some things all of us have met at least once, but still, most tend to disregard them
Water spots on your walls or ceiling and water puddles are more obvious signs, but they say the problem is not at its first phase as well
The leaks of the main water shut-off are the most common and the most obvious signs

If any of the above-mentioned happen to you, especially during the winter, you need to reach out for help immediately. However, if you suspect something wrong is going on but cannot detect the problem, you can always hire a professional leak detection service in the area to confirm your suspicions.

1. The main water valve – the first step in surviving a burst pipe in the winter

The most important thing everyone should know about their home is where the main water valve is located. This is especially important if you are about to move into a new home. As professional movers from Last Call Movers suggest, experience is a crucial factor in relocation matters. But, if this is your first move into a new home, it would be wise to ask the previous homeowners about the main water shut-off or the condition of the household pipes before you decide to make a deal.

Metal pipes with big valves to turn off as the first step in our guide on how to survive a burst pipe in the winter

Act fast and smart

In the emergency case, turning off the main water supply will stop water from causing further damage to your property. On the other hand, it will also give you some time to pull yourself together until professional help comes.

In most cases, the water valves and the water heater are located in the same place and are usually turned clockwise to be turned off.

2. Deal with the electricity

All electrical devices can be potentially dangerous in contact with water. What’s more, if a pipe burst happened in your home, being surrounded by water while your electrical system is on can be fatal. Therefore, after you make sure you have turned the water off, you should also deal with turning off the electricity. You can simply turn it off in the part of your home that is flooded or even in the whole household.

In case you are not sure whether or not the power is off, calling on the electrical company for help will be the wisest option.

3. Contact the plumber

Now that you have dealt with the first two steps in our guide to surviving a burst pipe in the winter, it’s smart to contact an emergency plumber right away. Remember that the sooner you get the right professional help, the less consequence you will feel. Once a emergency plumber arrives at your home, they will start fixing the problem. What’s more, they can also help you with creating the whole repair plan, as well as with finding the most affordable solution for your current state. Finally, the most important thing is that your smart moves, as well as their prompt reaction, will help your pipes not remain broken for a long time.

Let the professionals deal with the problem

4. Draining the pipes

Make sure that no water remains in your pipes after you turn off the main supply. Push the toilets, and remember to run first cold and then hot water through all your faucets. Plus, do not forget to turn the water heaters off, since they should not be in function while the water is off.

5. Remove water

Once when you are done with all these basic steps, you should turn to saving your home from further damage. Water can be pretty harmful to your floor, walls, and the whole house construction. So, try your best to remove as much water as possible from the flooded area. When we talk about ground floors or basements, things will go a little bit easier. You can use a drain, buckets, mops, and vacuums to remove the water. On the other hand, if you have a pipe burst emergency on some of the upper floors, the only way is to let the water drain out. This time you can use fans to speed up the process.

Prevention

Once you have faced the repair processes with a burst pipe, especially in the winter period, you’ve probably learned the lesson. It is high time to take steps to save your pipes from freezing:

Letting your faucets drip, at least a little, will help a lot. The water will be in constant motion, and it will not freeze that easily
Insulating the pipes is also a great idea. This is especially useful if your pipes are exposed, or set along the exterior wall, for example. Use some foam, fiberglass, or even newspaper to cover the pipes and protect them
Open the under-sink cabinet doors in both your kitchen and your bathroom. Warm air will circulate, and your pipes will not freeze during the cold days
Maintain your piping system, and let the plumber control them regularly. If breaks and cracks are located on time, it will save you a lot of money and stress, too

A close-up picture of a faucet in a bath

If you think about prevention, you won’t have to deal with how to survive a burst pipe in the winter

These would be the main things you need to remember if you want to survive a burst pipe in the winter. Keep them as a reminder just in case something unexpected happens to you in the next winter season.