5 Things You Need to Do If You Have a Burst Pipe

Posted on: 6 July 2017

If a pipe bursts, that can lead to serious damage. As a homeowner, you need to be prepared to deal with bursting pipes. Here's what to do if you find one.

1. Find the Source of the Leak

In some cases, a burst pipe may be completely visible. It may be a pipe leading to a toilet, a pipe on the outside of your home or another exposed pipe. In other cases, burst pipes may occur inside the wall or ceiling cavities, and you may notice the leaking water or that your water gauge is showing water being used even when no taps are on.  

Listen for the sound of running water. That should lead you to the pipe. If the water is leaking from a ceiling or a wall, cut into it to find the broken pipe.

2. Grab a Bucket

If there's only a small leak, you may be able to catch the water with a bucket or a pan. Position it under the pipe until you can get the repair done. This way you can continue to use the plumbing throughout the rest of your home.

3. Shut Off the Water

The water coming from a burst pipe is often too much to catch with just a bucket. In this case, you need to shut off the water coming into the home. Most homes have a on-off tap on the house or leading to where the plumbing connects to the main sewer system.

Fill some buckets with water before you shut off the water. Then, you have water for flushing, cooking and drinking.

4. Consider Turning Off the Power

If the water was running through walls or ceiling cavities with wires, that could lead to electrical issues or fires. If the wires are in perfect condition, this is usually not a risk. However, if the wires are stripped or have other damage, the water could cause serious fire risks as the water becomes a conduit for the electricity. In these cases, you also need to turn off the home's electricity, or at the very least, you need to turn off the circuit to that part of the home.

5. Call an Emergency Plumber

After you've taken steps to protect yourself, you should call an emergency plumber company, like Sam's Local Plumbing. Many emergency plumbers take appointments 24-7, and if they can dispatch a professional to your home as soon as possible, you can get the water and the lights on sooner.

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