Five Steps to Take Immediately When a Pipe Bursts
A burst pipe might seem like a disaster, but quick thinking and action can help you minimize damage. If you find yourself in that situation, it is best not to handle it alone. The experts at High 5 Plumbing, Heating & Cooling have the tools, skills, and experience to get things flowing smoothly again. Here are the first five things that you should do if you find yourself with a burst pipe.
1. Turn Off the Water Main
Turning off the water main can minimize the clean-up and damage that you are dealing with. Every home should be built with a water shut-off valve that will prevent new water from entering your system. You need to find that valve so that you can get to it quickly in the event of an emergency. If you skip turning off the water, others in your home or business may unknowingly make the mess worse. Do not turn the water main back on until you have been instructed to by a professional.
2. Turn Off the Electricity
Water and electricity are not meant to mix. Find the main service panel for your electrical system and switch it off. In a home, the box is usually located in a garage, basement, or laundry room, but it can also be outside the house. This is something else that you need to find and familiarize yourself with before dealing with a major issue. You’ll need to turn off your electricity when a pipe bursts because water may have leaked into a socket or even affected a circuit breaker. This can lead to fire, electrocution, and other hazards that are best avoided.
3. Call a Plumber
Calling the team at High 5 Plumbing, Heating & Cooling should be your next step. The sooner you call, the sooner we can send someone out to start fixing the problem. We will diagnose the issue and then discuss the ways that it can be fixed. We can also look for any other weak spots in your system to ensure that another burst pipe is not in your near future. A burst pipe can put stress on other parts of your plumbing system that weren’t originally damaged, so we will check the whole system before we turn the water back on.
4. Clean Up the Water
Standing water can cause a variety of issues in your home or business. By cleaning it up as quickly as possible, you have a better chance of saving your possessions. The more time things sit in water, the more they become water-logged and damaged. Standing water is also a breeding ground for bacteria, mold, and mildew. Cleaning up any water and drying the area as quickly as possible reduces the odds of harmful growths occurring on your property and causing health concerns down the line.
5. Inspect and Document Damage
Having pictures and documentation of any damage caused by the burst pipe can help you when it is time to file an insurance claim. Taking pictures before the repair work is done, as well as while you are cleaning up, can help prove the severity of the situation. Water damage can be widespread, so be sure to check the entire home before officially filing your claim.
How Do I Know If I Have a Burst Pipe?
While movies and television shows have made it seem like a burst pipe is always an over-the-top event, it is not always so obvious in real life. The clearest signs of a burst pipe are a large wet spot on either the floor or the wall. Puddles are often present around sinks and toilets, but you may also see water dripping from an overhead space or even leaking out of a faucet.
The other signs of a burst pipe can be a bit sneakier. Inconsistent water pressure can be the result of many things, and a burst pipe is one of them. If you have noticed that the water pressure drops when showering for no apparent reason, it is time to call the experts at High 5 Plumbing, Heating & Cooling.
Noisy pipes are another indicator that you may have a problem. The noise comes from a pipe moving around or a loose fitting. If the movement has not already caused a problem, it may soon, so seek professional assistance right away if you hear a clanking or rattling coming from your pipes.
Your water bill can also indicate that you have a leaking or burst pipe. If you see a sudden increase for no apparent reason, it is time to have an inspection. Smelly or discolored water can also indicate that a pipe has broken. If rust has caused your pipe to burst, your water may be tinged red and smell metallic.
What Causes a Burst Pipe?
Pipes tend to corrode over time. This happens because of an imbalance of the water’s pH in some cases. Plain old rust can also cause pipe corrosion. Both of these issues happen slowly over time, with pipes weakening until they leak or burst.
During the cold Denver winters, pipes can freeze. Frozen water in the pipes will expand, potentially causing a rupture. The best way to avoid this issue is to keep your home or business warm. This means leaving the thermostat at a comfortable temperature, even if you are going to be gone for a few days. You can also leave your water trickling to help prevent the pipes from freezing. Insulating areas that have pipes running through them, such as your crawl space or basement, will also help to keep them from freezing and bursting.
Clogs are another thing that can potentially lead to a burst pipe. A clog near your drain can cause water to back up into your home or business. If the clog is deep in your system, however, the water will have nowhere to go, and pressure will continue to build. Eventually, it could start leaking out. When the pressure becomes too much, the pipe will burst. Regular cleaning and maintenance from a professional can help prevent this from occurring.
Get Help With All of Your Plumbing Needs
Ultimately, regularly inspecting and maintaining your pipes is the best way to avoid the mess of a burst pipe in the first place. Fixing pipes as they become weak or corroded will save you money and hassle in the long run. Our team is trained to spot issues before they get out of control.
The High 5 Plumbing, Heating & Cooling team is here to help with all of your plumbing issues around the Denver metropolitan area. Whether you know for sure that you have a burst pipe or just suspect that there may be an issue, give us a call so that we can come out and take a look. We will get everything running smoothly again in no time. We also recommend that you have routine maintenance done on your pipes, which is something else we are more than happy to handle. [Company_name] is the place to call for all of your plumbing, drain, and sewer needs – reach out to us today!
