As a homeowner, you’re responsible for the upkeep of the home. This is why it’s important to know what to do when a pipe bursts at your home. Here are some tips on what to do when a pipe bursts in your home and how to handle this situation properly and in the correct order.
1) Turn off all hot and cold water valves
In order to avoid serious damage to all plumbing fixtures, turn off all hot water and cold water valves in your house as soon as you can. This will prevent the water from spilling onto the floor and flooding the house.
2) Reduce water flow
Once a pipe bursts, the water pressure will increase as the stream widens. This can cause further damage to your property and may cause water damage in your home. To prevent this from happening, use a cloth or towel to cover the hole of the burst pipe so that the stream of water can only escape through the small hole created by the split.
3) Close all interior doors
Close all interior doors, and this will isolate the area from further water damage. The interior doors are more vulnerable to water damage compared to exterior doors. Make sure that you leave the exterior doors open, as this will allow the excess water to flow out of your home in a quick manner.
4) Take pictures and video of the bursting pipe
Take pictures and video of the pipe burst. You will most likely need to call a plumber if you need to repair the pipe damage. This is the information that you’ll need to have available when you can have your plumber out.
5) Contact the insurance company
Call in the insurance company, and you most likely have plumbing insurance that will cover the damages to you home.
6) If you have a carpet, protect it
If you have a carpet, make sure to cover it with a tarp and place books and heavy furniture on top of the tarp. You don’t want your carpet to get wet and ruined.
7) Get all wet items up off the floor
Mopping is recommended if it is possible. This will help to remove any condensed water that is left behind, Use a wet/dry vacuum to suck up the water and then use your regular vacuum to suck up the remaining debris. The use of a wet mop and bucket can also be used with this method if you have one.
Drywall, carpet, and wood floors are all surface materials that can easily absorb liquid but not dry quickly enough to prevent a mold issue later on. If carpeting is wet, it might be best just to remove it if possible and replace it with a new carpet later on.
8) Contact a plumber to fix the pipe
If you need a professional plumber, contact Clog Kings LLC to get an estimate on repair costs and wait for them to come out to fix the pipe burst.
Don’t try to clean up the water in your home. Call your local plumbing and/or fire department as soon as possible to send out an emergency team if you can disconnect your natural gas or electric utility so that they don’t trip any of the breaker boxes, which will cause more damage to your water pipes.
To wrap it up
Can you imagine the damage to your home if you did not know what to do when a pipe bursts in your home? It would be much worse than what the average person thinks. Read through the tips provided and make sure that you follow them correctly. This will ensure that you have a much lower chance of suffering from water damage at your home. For more information or to schedule an inspection to make sure that no pipes burst in your home contact us today!
