My Pipes Burst! What Should I Do
On the list of a homeowner’s greatest fears is a burst pipe. This is especially a concern during winter when pipes are prone to freezing. Pipes burst, however, throughout the year – it doesn’t matter the season, just the circumstances. So, it’s important for you to know what to do when you’ve experienced bursting pipes in your home’s plumbing system.
What to Do When Your Pipes Burst
When you realize that a pipe has burst in your home, you need to act before the plumber can get even get to your address. Without a doubt, you are going to need the assistance of a professional plumbing contractor, but first you need to get the situation under control. Let’s discuss what you should do when a pipe has burst and ruined your day.
Step 1: Turn off the Water Supply
Before you do anything else, you need to get to your water main and shut off the water to your home. You should be able to find the water main in your basement, crawlspace, or beneath a metal plate somewhere in your yard. The longer the water is left on, the more and more water will enter your home.
If there’s a possibility that the water in your home has reached any of your electrical units, take a second to turn off the power to your home, as well.
Step 2: Call a Plumber
Your next step should be to call a plumber. Unless you’re an experienced professional yourself, you’re going to need the help of the experts to identify why your pipes burst and what can be done about it.
It’s at this point that you may want to call your homeowner’s insurance company to begin a claim filing process.
Step 3: Drain Faucets
If you’re talking to a plumber over a mobile phone, you can even do this at the same time as step 2. Now that the water is shut off, you need to go around to every faucet in the home and turn them on to eliminate the remaining water from the plumbing system. If your pipes burst because of the cold, this will reduce the chance of frozen water building up in your pipes.
Do this for the cold water in your home. Then, shut off your water heater and do the same for hot water taps.
Step 4: Take Pictures
With the plumber on their way and the emergency relatively contained, it’s time for you to document the incident to later present to your insurance company. Don’t immediately throw out any damaged items of yours – they’ll serve as evidence of your claim later on.
From here, you’ve done all that you can. Now, it is time to leave the job in the hands of a professional plumbing contractor. These highly trained and experienced contractors will be able to assess the situation and see what must be done to make it right. When your pipes burst, your local plumber is the best resource you can have.
