For many people, their home is their greatest asset, and it makes good sense to protect that investment. Maintaining a home takes time, money and considerable effort, so the last thing any homeowner needs is a burst pipe. When a pipe bursts it can cause a great deal of water damage in a very short period of time. If you’re away from home for a long time, you could return to a home that’s very different from when you left. Pipes sometimes burst, this is the nature of plumbing, but there are things that you can do to prevent a burst pipe and ways to deal with the situation effectively.
How to Identify a Potential Problem
A plumbing pipe can burst spontaneously in colder weather, but it’s far more likely that you will get a little warning that there is a potential risk. Be on the lookout for puddles under sinks and plumbing fixtures that could indicate a smaller water leak that could get worse. Damp patches on walls and ceilings are a good indicator that a water leak has occurred in a pipe that’s harder to reach. Examine any exposed pipes in the basement or elsewhere in the home and look for signs of cracks or corrosion. If you notice any of these indicators, it’s a great idea to contact your
local certified plumber and ask them to take a look at your plumbing. After all, prevention is usually better than the cure; fixing the problem now will prevent extensive water damage later that could cost thousands of dollars to fix.
Dealing with a Burst Pipe
When a pipe bursts and you’re in the home at the time, it’s easy to panic and lose focus. After all, every moment that you delay in taking control will allow more water to enter the home, and this will make things worse. It’s difficult to maintain control, but it’s essential that you act in a methodical manner to deal with the problem effectively.
Having a plan in place for this type of situation is a great way to deal with the problem. When you have a plan, everything seems to work out better, and it isn’t hard to get ready for this situation. You will need to know how to turn the water off at the mains. If you have any DIY skills, you may want to get a plumbing repair kit for smaller temporary pipe repairs. It’s also a great idea to check out some local plumbers in advance and get their emergency number ready for a potential emergency. Scrambling around for a plumber when you’re under pressure isn’t a good idea, and you could even end up hiring the wrong person for the job.
The very first thing that you need to do is turn off the water at the mains and find the burst pipe. If the burst area is smaller, you may be able to patch it with a repair kit, but this should be a temporary fix until you can arrange something more permanent. If you’re confident with DIY, you may be able to replace the affected section of pipe. If you’re not confident or you don’t want to risk an amateur repair that may not work contact your local plumber for expert assistance. Mop up any water that you can find as quickly as you can to mitigate the potential water damage and contact your insurer if the damage is more extensive.
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.
