A burst pipe is a real home emergency. This means that you should have a plan to deal with it ahead of time, if possible. Usually, they’re caused by changes in temperature, especially freezing cold, but tree roots, corrosion in the pipes, and shifting soil can cause them to happen, too. Regardless of the cause, they can be extremely expensive to deal with if you’re not ready to act immediately, so here are a few tips on how to prepare for and deal with them.
Stop the flow of water
Water is going to be coming out of the burst pipe, so your first priority should be to make sure that you put a stop to it. This means knowing where your shutoff valve is located, as shown at https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-find-main-water-shutoff-valve-1822492. Usually, it’s beneath the kitchen sink, but some homes might have them outside. You want to make sure that you can locate this valve ahead of time if possible, it’s something every homeowner should know the location of.
Run the other taps
The water that is currently in your home’s system is going to continue to run even after you have shut off the water. As such, you want to make sure that you’re reducing the water pressure and the best way to do this is by running every faucet, flushing every toilet, and using the garden hose until no more water is coming out of them. Just make sure you turn them all off again when the home’s plumbing is empty.
Have a good plumber on call
Weak, old, and corroded pipes are going to be a consistent cause for concern and can contribute majorly to burst pipes. Ensure you have the number of a team like https://secondopinionplumbingaz.com/contact/ on hand to call in an emergency. However, if you’re in an older home, then you might want to call them in advance to give your system a once over and to check if you might need some updated piping.
Fixing the damage
Once you have control of the pipe again, then it’s time to look at what damage has been done. Usually, this is going to be water damage, which can outright ruin many materials, and can begin the spread of mold in even those that aren’t immediately and visibly affected. Working with a mold damage remediation service like https://www.dkiservices.com/services/water-damage/ can ensure that you’re able to keep the damage to a minimum, preventing unexpected long-term consequences.
What you can do to prevent it
If you want to make sure that burst pipes don’t happen, whether you’ve already experienced them or not, then you have to look at the causes. Any homes with trees close to the house should consider the possibility of root damage and what might need to be done if the trees start to grow too large. Otherwise, insulating your pipes from winters’ chill is your best bet.
A burst pipe is always going to be something of a calamity but, with the tips above, you can make sure that you get on it as soon as possible.
I live in a small Georgia town that you most likely have never heard of and I LOVE it! My house is more than full as I am a single mother of four & caregiver to my aging mother and uncle. Lover of all things Outlander. Goes to the beat of her own drum woman.
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I can imagine burst pipes would be very expensive to repair.
We went through this this winter and it is no fun! These are some great tips thanks for sharing a good plumber on speed dial is key!
A very expensive emergency
My daughter’s pipe burst in her garage while they were here visiting for the holidays. Thank goodness her neighbor noticed the water coming out the garage. What a mess and it was over the holidays so repairing it was a nightmare.
I can attest to the fact that burst pipes are a real home emergency as I have experienced this occurrence in the past, pipe repair and the subsequent clean-up should be handled by a professional as mold growth is just one of many lasting effects of water being let loose and soaking everything in the interior walls and floorboards
It’s an awful situation, so I appreciate the advice!