What to Do if a Pipe Bursts

March 24, 2023

For a homeowner a burst pipe is a nightmare. If you don't know what to do, you might panic and not know where to turn, and if you do know what to do you have to act fast so that you can lessen any potential damage. Burst pipes are probably the last thing that anybody wants to deal with, and it's a huge interruption to your daily living


When the temperature drops however, you might be especially vulnerable, just as much as when the temperature warms up. Companies such as Second Opinion Plumbing are there to help when a broken water pipe is the biggest problem you have that day, but you need to ensure that you can do everything possible before you call in the experts yourself. Knowing what to do can help you to reduce the damage to your home, which should be your biggest focus given that nobody wants to have to make an insurance claim. To avoid any of that disruption, here are some of the things that you could do when the pipe bursts.

 


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  • Turn off the water. When you notice a pipe has burst you need to go to the main water valve in the home and shut it off immediately. Turn the valve clockwise or you can use the meter key. It really does help to know where the water valve is, so check your home handbook. You might also find it either in the basement, a crawlspace, in a utility cupboard, or under the kitchen sink. Some water valves are located on the street near the curb or sidewalk.

  • Turn off the electricity. Once you've turned off the water valve, make sure you flip the switch on your electricity systems. Before you start cleaning up any water you need to make sure you're not going to give yourself a very big shock in a very bad way. Electrical panels are again usually in the basement, garage or a closet, and if water is blocking your path that leads to the breaker box you need to make sure that you call an electrician. You don't want to be responsible for potentially burning down your house!

  • Drain out the remaining water from the system. Just because a pipe has burst somewhere in your house doesn't mean that all of the pipes are now empty. By turning on a faucet at any of the things in your home, you'll relieve the pressure and will drain out that remaining water so you'll prevent further damage or leaks happening.

  • Call in the plumber. We've already mentioned an excellent company above, but this is where you would call the plumber. You want to do this before you need them for an emergency service, and not just because emergency services can have extra fees. They are the pros and they know exactly what to do in the event of a burst pipe and they know how to fix it. You can get the problem halfway there by using all of the tips we've already mentioned, but the plumber is the one who's going to finish the job.

  • Clean up the water. After the plumber has done their bit, cleaning up the water could be the best thing that you do next. Toxic mold can be much worse to deal with than property damage, and you may never really get rid of it. Rent some industrial sized blowers and dehumidifiers and make sure that you call out a  professional company to get rid of the excess water.




 


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