What to do when you have a burst pipe
So many clients call us every week, frantic because they have a plumbing emergency that demands immediate attention from a professional plumber. One such event occurred when a customer had a burst pipe recently, and he was unable to find the main shut-off. However, our call center staff managed to walk him through the process, while our expert plumbing technician went to the client’s home. This post is aimed at helping you to be informed, should a plumbing emergency occur. Here’s how you prepare yourself for a burst pipe:
1. Locate & Shut Off Your Main Valve
Avoid flooding by shutting off the main valve right away.
How to find and turn off your main valve
In an emergency, you need to find the valve that passes water through the city’s valves into your home. Ideally, you should find it before you’re in an emergency situation. Usually, the main water shut-off valve is located on the outside wall in your home’s utility area, or in the basement. When it is open, the shutoff valve allows the full water flow through the pipes. However, when you turn it off (clockwise) it cuts the water flow off completely. The main shutoff valve could have a gate valve or a ball valve and its main function is to stop flooding in the event of a plumbing emergency, such as a burst pipe. A small amount of leaking around the valve stem is common when you close the valve. Expert plumbing tip: Be sure to unscrew the aerators on the faucets before you turn the valve back on. Also, it helps to know where the inside shut-offs are located, as that is a simple way to prevent damage.
2. Turn All the Cold Water Taps On
This will relieve pressure, helping the pipes to drain out all the water. Warning: Do NOT turn on the hot water faucets!
3. Turn Off All Electrical Devices
Start with those in the immediate vicinity of the broken pipe to prevent electrocution.
4. Call Ridgeway Plumbing on (770) 354-4594 right away
We will dispatch the first available emergency plumbing team to your home right away.
Replacing Burst Pipes
In most cases, it is better to replace burst or cracked pipes, rather than to try to repair them. Since the pipe is already weakened, you would simply delay the inevitable by trying to repair it. Here at Ridgeway Plumbing in Atlanta, Ga., we use modern plumbing practices, one of which is helpful in the event of burst pipes. We can actually replace your burst pipes with brand new pipes with our new trenchless pipe repair service. With a small hole on either side of the burst piece, we can save you a great deal of property destruction, aggravation, time, and money.
We offer two options:
CIPP or Cured-in-Place Piping – After scouring the existing pipe with hydro-jetting equipment, we insert an epoxy resin liner, after which we insert a bladder, which is inflated to apply pressure to the resin until it is hardened. Pipe-Within-Pipe – After digging a small hole at each end of the line, we attach a small path-clearing head to the new pipe, pulling it through the existing plumbing. Our methods are all compliant with local codes, and completely safe for residential homes and their occupants. These options are virtually leakproof, and you will have pipes that are as good as new. Contact Ridgeway Plumbing in the event of a burst pipe, after you have completed the steps above. Your safety is our number one priority.
