If you find that a water pipe has burst in your home, the worst thing you can possibly do is put off dealing with it. Even when you turn off the water supply, a burst pipe will continue to drip until the pipe is completely empty. This means that you can incur more water damage than is already apparent around the area of the burst pipe.
If electrical appliances are present around the burst water pipe, shut off the home’s electrical supply at the main breakers to avoid starting an electrical fire or causing electrical damage.
Always know Where Your Water Shut-off Valve is Located
At this point, it’s safe to go and turn off the water supply. One of the first things you should do upon moving into a new home or apartment is to find out the where both the electrical and the water shut-offs to your home are located. Not knowing the location of these can be a recipe for disaster.
Once the water has been shut off, you can relax, although you are not done quite yet. As the burst pipe will continue to drip water, you should remove all furnishings and porous materials from the area around the burst water pipe to minimise any damage to household goods.
Once that is done, it’s time to call a in a certified plumber to repair the water pipe. Most plumbing companies are well-versed in getting calls at all hours of the day and night. They will be able to respond quickly in the case of an emergency.
What are the Causes of Burst Water Pipes?
Burst water pipes are mainly due to two natural, and related, causes – age and temperature fluctuations. During the normal life of a water pipe the metal expands and contracts over the yearly seasons, they contract during the colder months and expand during the hotter months. This fatigues the metal over time and causes the metal to become brittle.
Pipes generally burst at their weakest areas and it is usually the joints that give way in a water pipe. There really is no practical way to insure against a burst water pipe. However, having an inspection done of the state of your plumbing when you move into a new home can give you an indication of the age and reliability of your plumbing.
Keep Your Plumber’s Phone Number Handy
Just like the police and fire services, you should always keep the phone numbers of emergency repair services in your cell-phone.
A plumber knows how inconvenient living without a water supply can be for even a day. They will make every effort to reply to your call for help as soon as possible. They carry the necessary supplies to fix a burst water pipe at all times, so they should only have make one visit to have your plumbing up and running again.