As a homeowner, the words “burst pipe” can make you break into a cold sweat.
You have flashbacks from movies like Titanic, where everyone is panicking and climbing on top of furniture to escape the water. “Don’t let go, Jack!”
Well, the good news is, there’s no need to be so dramatic.
While we can’t stop pipes from bursting, we can tell you what to do when it happens. Here are the steps you should follow when a water pipe bursts in your home:
Turn Off Your Main Water Supply
The first thing you need to do is locate, and close, your main water shutoff valve. This will minimise water damage by stopping the water from gushing out of the busted pipes.
You can usually find your main shutoff valve on an exterior wall of your house, often outside your kitchen.
If you can’t locate this valve, look on the pavement outside your property. Here, you will find a municipal access point where you can shut off the water supply.
Drain Your Taps
Once your water supply has been turned off, open your cold water taps. This will drain the remaining trapped water and relieve the pressure on your pipes. Keep the taps open until the water stops flowing.
You should also flush the toilets in your house to drain the water from those pipes.
If the water leak is near electrical sockets or appliances, turn off the electricity in that area.
Document the Damage
During each step listed above, be sure to take photos to document the damage. This will serve as evidence for your insurance claim.
Take clear pictures of the broken water pipe and any items that have been damaged by water. Don’t throw away any damaged items until you have spoken to your insurance providers.
Call a Plumber
Once you’ve prevented any further damage from being done, it’s time to call in the experts.
Professional plumbers, like those at Savvy Plumbing, will accurately diagnose and fix the problem. Savvy Plumbing experts will repair the broken pipes, using quality materials, to prevent repeated leaks.
It is not recommended to make these repairs yourself. Many insurance companies stipulate that you must hire a professional plumber to attend to the problem. If you or an uninsured handyman make the repair, and it breaks, your insurance provider may not acknowledge your claim.
Dry Your House Thoroughly
Once the burst pipe is fixed, it’s time to clean up the mess it made.
Mould can start growing on damp surfaces in as little as 48 hours, so it’s important to dry all areas of your home thoroughly.
Use mops and old towels to soak up the water. If the water level is quite high, you may need to hire a submersible pump.
Place wet rugs and other moveable items outside in the sun to dry.
Once you have soaked up as much water as you can, open up windows and turn on fans and heaters to ventilate your house and speed up drying.
When a Water Pipe Bursts, Call Savvy Plumbing!
As you can see, when a water pipe bursts in your home, it doesn’t have to be a disaster. If you leap into action quickly, you can minimise the damage and inconvenience caused.
Contact Savvy Plumbing for all your domestic and commercial plumbing needs!
