If you come home and find a burst pipe, you need to act fast. Water damage on your floors, walls and furniture is costly. The good news is, with a few quick actions, you can minimise damage and avoid a catastrophe.
Pipes usually burst due to changes in temperature. Other reasons include; tree roots forcing into the pipe, corrosion, high water pressure and clogs building up and causing a pipe to crack. Let’s take a look at how to handle a burst pipe in an emergency.
Immediate Steps to Take in the Event of a Burst Pipe
1. Turn Off the Water Supply
If you know which pipe is leaking, you may be able to cut the water supply to just this pipe. If in doubt, cut the water supply to the whole house. Water will continue to leak until you do this, meaning time is of the essence.
2. Switch Off the Power Supply
Water mixed with electricity is not a good combination and can lead to injury. To ensure the safety for yourself and your family, locate the fuse box and shut down all power.
3. Call a Local Plumber
Once you’ve stopped the water from flowing into your home, call in your local plumber. Sweeney’s Plumbing offer emergency plumbing assistance 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in the Hills District, North Shore, Lower North Shore, Seven Hills, Turramurra, Pymble and Ryde.
What to Do Next?
Once you’ve dealt with the initial emergency, you need to contain any leaking water and tidy up any damaged areas. If left, water can ruin carpets and walls, plus mold may start to grow in damp conditions which is a health hazard.
- Strategically place buckets and towels. While you’re waiting for the plumber, place buckets under any active drips. Even small amounts of water can seep into floorboards and carpets causing damage. If water is coming up through the floor, place towels on the area to soak up damp patches
- Clean up escaped water. Mop up any puddled water on hard surfaces like tiling. If water has seeped into carpet, use a water vac and follow up with absorbent towels. Open up windows and turn on fans to assist with evaporation
- Drain the remaining water from pipes. Open the hot and cold taps and allow any water to drain away
How Are Burst Pipes Fixed?
Once you’ve stemmed the flow of water, your plumber should be with you to repair the damage. How the pipe is fixed depends on which pipe has burst and how badly damaged it is. If it’s within easy reach, your plumber may just have to unscrew the burst section and replace it with a new part.
For pipes burst behind a wall or under the floorboards, it may be a little more complex to repair. Your Seven Hills plumber will take the best course of action for your situation.