When the weather outside turns colder, it can be a danger to your home plumbing system. The interconnected series of water carrying pipes and fixtures in your home can be vulnerable to freezing. When that water thaws, the pressure in the pipe changes, and the pipe can burst. This can lead to the release of a large volume of water, and this can cause a tremendous amount of damage in just a short period of time. In this article, we will look at four ways to handle burst pipes in your home.
Keep Calm and Shut-off the Water Supply
Whenever any kind of emergency occurs, it’s natural to panic, but this will not help you to deal with the situation in a rational manner. It can be hard to control your emotions, but you must try to keep your wits about you, and you will be able to handle the situation better. Ahead of time, you should learn the location of your shut-off valve to stop more water coming into the home through the burst pipes. This is usually located in a bathroom high up on a wall in modern homes. Make sure everyone in the home knows how to shut-off the water in the home during an emergency. Test the shut-off valve each month to make sure it moves smoothly, and that it is fully open or closed. As soon as a pipe bursts, turn the shut-off valve, and this will minimize the water damage in your home during the emergency.
Assess the Extent of the Damage
Now that you’ve successfully shut-off the water, it’s time to assess the extent of the damage. Take some time to evaluate how waterlogged your home has become, and you need to move quickly at this time. If you take too long, you will allow mold and mildew to grow in the damp conditions that have been created in your home. If your pipes are made with lead or have lead solder joints, this is the ideal time to get them replaced. Switching to copper or PVC pipes will improve the quality of your plumbing system and protect your health.
Inspect Your Plumbing
Once the water damage has been managed, it’s time to check your home plumbing pipes for signs of damage. If you can see holes, cracks, and breaks in any pipes or fixtures, it’s time to call a local certified plumber for help. Using a pipe sealant is only a stop gap measure, and broken pipes need to be replaced. Some professional pipe repairs can be effective, but plumbing expertise is required.
4. Avoid DIY Repairs
It’s tempting to save money with a DIY plumbing repair, but it’s easy to make the situation far worse. If a repair is more extensive, it will cost more, and a botched DIY repair could cause more damage. Always call the plumber early, and you could save yourself more money in the long run and avoid a lot of water damage to your home.
If you have burst pipes in your home, contact your local certified plumber quickly. They have the skills, expert knowledge, and specialized tools to fix your pipes and prevent further water damage in your home.
By Giovanni Longo President Flood Brothers Plumbing
Giovanni Longo is a 3rd generation master plumber who has been practicing his craft and trade in the greater Los Angeles area for well over a decade and a half. A plumbing and hydraulics-engineering innovator, Giovanni’s particular world-class expertise focuses on dealing with challenging sewer system designs as well as resolving complex commercial and residential draining issues. As a certified Flood Mitigation expert, he is also well versed in a wide variety of water damage and remediation solution.
