A burst water pipe can happen suddenly and without warning, and when it does, it can start flooding your home in minutes. While there are several possible causes, the immediate focus isn’t figuring out why it happened, it’s stopping the water and limiting the damage as fast as possible.
So what should you do in those critical first moments? The actions you take right away can significantly reduce water damage and repair costs. Before your plumber arrives, here are the most important steps to follow when dealing with a burst pipe.
Emergency steps for a burst water pipe – the first 5 minutes
Shut off the water
Do this by closing the dedicated shut-off valve for the damaged pipe, if it has one. If you can’t find a shut-off valve for the burst pipe, shut off the water supply to the entire house at the main water shut-off valve. You can usually find this valve in the basement, utility room, or outside your home, around the point where the main water line enters your house.
Turn off the electricity
Turn off the power supply to the affected area. If there is a risk that water has touched a power outlet or a nearby appliance, avoid contact with it. If you must pass through the water to reach the breaker box, wear rubber boots and gloves. If it is not possible to turn off the power supply to only the affected area, turn off the supply to the entire house.
Call an emergency plumber
Hopefully, you already have the contact details of a reliable emergency plumber in the Riverside, IL area. Call them and explain the situation. If they can’t come at once, look for another plumber. If you don’t know any emergency plumbers, call your regular plumber. They may have the contact of a trustworthy emergency plumber or even come over to fix the problem themselves. If you are dealing with a serious situation like frozen pipes, burst pipes, or a sewer backup, you can read more about emergency response here: Chicago Emergency Plumber for Frozen Pipes, Burst Pipes & Sewer Backup
Water containment and minimizing damage
Drain your water pipes
Open all faucets in your home (hot and cold) to divert pressure from the broken pipe section and drain the remaining water inside the pipes. Place a bucket under the broken pipe to catch any water that is still dripping from the crack.
Document the damage
Walk through the affected area with your Smartphone and record a video of the burst pipe and the resulting damage. Add narration to the video to give viewers a perspective and help them understand the recording. Make this as detailed as you can. The information will come in handy when filing your insurance claims.
Call the insurance company
Contact the representative of the insurance company and inform them of what has happened. Provide only the details you know. Unless you are sure of the actual cause of the problem, you are not under any obligation to say it. Your insurer will probably send someone over to identify the origin of the problem and evaluate the damage.
Move your belongings
Move items that can be damaged by water, such as furniture, electronics, etc. Salvage all items that can be saved, and move your damaged belongings that can’t be salvaged out of the house. To make it easier to mop up the water, clear the room by moving your stuff higher or taking it to other rooms.
Mop up the water
If there is a risk that the water will flow into other rooms, roll up some towels or bed sheets and lay them across the path of the water. If there is a lot of water on your floor, scoop up as much as you can with a dustpan and dump it in a bucket. If you can get your hands on a wet/dry vacuum, it will make your work faster and easier. If not, just use a mop to dry your floors.
Dry and ventilate
To speed up the drying process, open all windows to improve ventilation. Set up fans to move air across wet surfaces and facilitate drying. If you have a dehumidifier, run it continuously to pull moisture out of the air. Rent a room heater, if you don’t have one in your home, to raise the indoor temperature and remove even more moisture from your walls and wet surfaces.
Talk to a professional
If water has penetrated your flooring and insulation, the above steps will not fix it. For deeper drying and advice on what to do to prevent mold, talk to a professional. It may be necessary to remove sections of your drywall, insulation, baseboard, or even flooring. Taking these steps early will minimize the damage to your home.
Lastly, address the root cause of the problem. It is not enough to have your plumber repair the burst pipe; you want them to discover why the pipe burst and address the issue. You also want to have the rest of your plumbing inspected to prevent a recurrence of the problem in the future.
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Need assistance with a burst pipe repair in the Riverside, IL area? We can help! Call us now at 708-801-6530!
