Because a burst pipe can very quickly turn into huge damage to your home and finances, there are a few things to do immediately to help you with the problem of a burst pipe.
Turn Off the Main Water Supply
You'll want to immediately turn off the water supply to the building, whether it's your home or business. This will limit the water damage and contain the leak. Your water shut-off valve is typically located wherever the main water source enters the house. Make sure to turn off your water heater as well. Every family should know where the water shut-off valve is at all times just in case of emergency.
Drain the remaining water by turning on the cold tap water on your faucets and flush the toilet. This drains all the water from the pipes to stop the leak, but it also prevents pressure from building up in the pipes. Then drain the hot water as well by turning the faucet to hot.
If you suspect the leak is near an electrical appliance or the breaker box, it would be a good idea to turn off the electricity too to avoid electrical shock.
Locate the Burst Pipe
Be careful when checking around the house. Watch for bulging ceilings are walls where water damage has already occurred. If you see a drip coming from the ceiling or below cabinets, place a bucket below them to catch the water until it can be repaired.
Bring in Professional Help
You'll need a plumber to assess and repair the burst pipe, but you'll also need a professional to help you clean up the water. If you only use fans to dry the areas, that's a cause for mold and potential health issues for you and your family. You may also need an electrician to repair any electrical damage done to your home. Luckily, we at 1-800-Plumber +Air & Electric of Amarillo are fully licensed and trained to take care of plumbing and electrical needs. Contact Us Today!
Document Everything
Take pictures throughout your house where the damage has occurred. This can be used for an insurance claim.
Burst Pipe Causes
The most common reason for burst pipes is freezing weather, which isn't so much a problem here in Amarillo. There are a few things to look out for though:
Clogs
Clogs tend to happen naturally after a buildup of things like food, toilet paper, flushable wipes, hair, or accidentally flushed items get into the drain system and into the pipes. A clog in a pipe can cause pressure to build up from the lack of water flow in the clogged area, which will lead them to burst. Be careful to only flush small amounts of toilet paper at a time and keep a drain protector on your drains to catch hair or food particles to limit this kind of pipe burst.
Degrading Pipes
Your pipes may degrade over time if your house is older and steel pipes were used for your water system. Steel pipes will corrode over time, leading to burst pipes. The solution to this is to replace the old pipes with plastic or copper to avoid corrosion altogether.
Tree Roots
When trees grow larger, their roots extend further. This means that the roots can push into your pipes, causing a build up of pressure until they burst. The way to avoid this is to plant new trees as far away as possible from water pipes, but if trees are already planted, there's not much that can be done to avoid the roots growing into the pipes.
Ground Movement
The only time this usually happens is if there is construction going on at your house, or near it. To avoid shifting soil, let the construction workers know to be mindful of your pipes. They can avoid doing damage to your pipes by ensuring they don't move any soil right near your pipes and they don't add unnecessary pressure by adding dirt on top of where your pipes are.
However, natural disasters like earthquakes can also displace where your pipes are in the soil, causing leakages or breaks.
Signs of a Burst Pipe
Sometimes, a burst pipe will happen without a home owner even knowing. That's because sometimes the signs are more subtle than gushing water.
Changing Water Pressure
If your water pressure goes between very light to suddenly higher pressure for a few seconds, this could mean there's a plumbing problem. The best course of action is to call a plumber to check it out because it causes problems.
Discolored or Smelly Water
Smelly water can be a sign of a burst pipe for a few reasons. The first is that rust can lead a pipe to breaking, and if the pipe breaks underground, it can let bacteria into your water line. It's imperative to get a plumber to check out your plumbing system if your water smells or is discolored because bacteria in your water can cause severe health problems.
Dripping or Dripping Noises
If there's a drip you have to catch with a bucket from the ceiling, or a dripping noise behind the wall, these are both signs you've got a leaking pipe somewhere, which could turn into a burst pipe. If you see or hear dripping, it's best to call a plumber rather than handling it yourself. Trying to fix a leak by yourself, or any plumbing issue, can lead to even bigger issues down the road that could cost more or be more damaging to your home.
Mildew
If you smell mildew or see signs of mold, this can be a sign of a leaking pipe. Call a professional to diagnose the problem before it causes health issues for you or your family.
Did a pipe burst in your home? Call Us Today!
We at 1-800-Plumber +Air & Electric of Amarillo are experts when it comes to all things related to HVAC, Plumbing and Electric. Give us a call today if you have or suspect a burst pipe or Contact Us Here. We can examine your plumbing system and fix any burst pipe.
