What Should You Do When You Find a Burst Pipe In Your Home

A burst pipe can be a headache when it flood your bathroom with water. The water will overflow into the nearby rooms and cause other furniture to become wet. It is important to quickly get your pipe fixed to prevent it from wrecking more expensive damages. The following are 4 tips on what to do when there is a burst pipe in your home.

What Should You Do When You Find a Burst Pipe In Your Home

1. Look for Pipe Burst Symptoms
When the pipe is burst, you can see directly noticeable symptoms like puddles of water underneath. More often, a pipe that is rusty in some places and have strange smells are indication that it is broken somewhere. You could also be hearing noises behind the walls. The first thing to do when your pipe is burst is to turn off the main water valve which is located somewhere in your house. It is usually located in crawl spaces, and below a metal lid on your property. If the leaking occurs near the electricity fuse, you should also shut off the electricity.

2. Get Rid of the Water
The next step is to get rid of the standing water caused by the leaking pipe. You will need to get a mop to mop up the water puddle. If you have a wet/dry vacuum, you can also use it to vacuum up the water. If the water is up to your knee, you will need to use buckets to scoop up the water and dump in the drain outside. Quick clean up can reduce the chance of your wall and flooring become damaged by mold.

3. Melt the Ice in the Frozen Pipe
You can melt the ice in the pipe to by turning on the heater. You can turn on the faucet while the heater is on. You will notice an increase in the flow of the water after the ice has been melted. If the pipe is in a vanity mirror cupboard, you should open the cupboard doors so that warm air can come in.

A burst pipe often happen in winter when the water freeze. The water pressure can increase up to 40,000 psi inside the pipe when the water freeze. The high pressure is the reason why the pipe burst. You can relieve the pressure in the pipe by opening the faucet. This should be done on the cold taps first. After you drain off the cold water in the cold taps, you can turn off the water boiler and heating system.

4. Seek Help from a Licensed Plumber
Unless you are experienced in plumbing repair, you should hire a professional plumber to repair the leaking pipe. The cost will be minimum 1,000 onwards. You might want to hire an electrician if the leaking pipe is causing damages on the electrical system. Hiring a licensed and insured plumber ensures that you get reliable repair. If your hire a handyman that is not licensed, there is a chance that the repair will go wrong and you will not get covered since he is uninsured.

  • FAQ’s for Sewer Backups and Basement Water Damage Problems

    Sewage backup and basement flooding are unpleasant and pose lots of dangers such as contamination and biohazard risks. They should be considered an emergency and dealt with efficiently and promptly.
    Using Service Pros professional services will certainly work to your leverage. Our emergency sewage and flood basement cleaning teams have specialized equipment and training to swiftly and safely clear, clean and restore your affected areas.

    What is a sewage backup?

    Houses have incoming water lines and outgoing sewer lines. A sewage backup happens when an obstruction and blockage prevents the normal flow of wastewater from your house to the sanit/ary sewer.
    The wastewater starts to back up into your home as it fills up your drain pipes, and doesn’t properly drain away from the house.

    What are the indications of a sewage backup?

    Several common signs may indicate that you could experience a sewage backup. One of the common indicators is having more than one clogged drain, especially if one of the clogs is in a drain you infrequently use.
    Water usually backs up into a lower drain. However, when your water is backing up into other drains, you should be concerned. One drain should not drain into another drainage system.
    Another suitable method to identify a sewer backup is checking if water gurgles in the sink after flushing the toilet or showering. You should as well check for the appearance of bubbles as they point to trapped air generated by water attempting to pass through the clogged area of the drain.
    At the same time, another common sign includes your toilet not flushing correctly, slow draining in more than one fixture, a soggy or smelly yard, sewage coming out of a cleanout pipe, and foul odors coming from a drain.

    What are the hazards with sewer backups?

    Sewage mainly contains human feces and urine that contains viruses, bacteria, and other contaminants that can cause ailments. These include rotavirus, adenoviruses, norovirus, diarrhea, cramping, vomiting, throat, nose, and eye infections.

    Can I clean a sewer backup myself?

    Cleaning the sewer backup yourself could lead to hazardous activity and result in improper remediation activities and more significant problems. So, you may opt to go for our professional water damage restoration company. Without technical assistance, you may likely spread the contaminated sewer problem from one room to other rooms.
    Our professional team of experts is better suited and knowledgeable in the finest ways to clean up sewage at minimum risk. We will ensure a successful restoration of your property and help you avoid any health hazards.

    Can I use bleach to clean up a sewer backup?

    Odors that come from sewage backups are unpleasant, and you may want to get rid of them. Bleach is a widespread solution for most people and should be avoided as it is a poor solution for sewer backups. More harm may be caused by bleach as it can react with other substances are in the sewer pipes and potentially release harmful fumes.

    Which items can I keep after a sewer backup?

    If any of your absorbable belongings get in touch with sewer water, you need to dispose of it. Nevertheless, our professional team can easily clean and restore if hard materials or unabsorbent material come into contact with sewer water.

    What is basement flooding?

    It is not unusual for many homeowners to go down their basement steps, only to find a pool of murky water. This water may cause damage to your walls, floors, furniture and lead to mold. As the basement is commonly used for storage, the pool of water destroys many irreplaceable and essential items.

    What causes basement flooding?

    Basement flooding may arise because you have an external or internal leak, leaking foundation walls, improperly sealed walls, floors, a clogged gutter system, or your sump pump becoming dysfunctional.

    How do I know if I require basement flooding solutions?

    It is usual that many homeowners are unaware of their need for basement flooding solutions in their homes.
    If your house is situated in a flood-prone area, or if your home lacks effective basement drainage or waterproofing, it might good idea to invest in Service Pros basement flooding solutions.

    What are the signs of basement flooding?

    Indicators of basement flooding include a musty smell in your basement, water damage to your foundation or walls, discolored water stains on an affected area on the wall or floor, calcification build-up and standing water in your basement.

    How can I avoid basement flooding in the future?

    A sump pump is mandatory for any basement as it pumps water out immediately it gets inside the basement. You may also install a backwater valve occasionally to prevent sewer clogs and backups, regularly check for pipe damage, clean your gutters regularly, and fix foundation cracks.

    Which immediate steps should I take when I have basement flooding?

    The first step to take when you see that your basement is filled with water is to turn off your electricity and shut off the power in your home. Afterward, call an electrician and our professional team of Service Pros basement flood cleaners.
    The subsequent step to take is to move any water-damaged items to a dry place. However, remember to protect yourself by putting on protective clothing and gear such as face masks, gloves, overalls, and boots.

    How much does it cost to fix basement flood damage?

    There are multiple variables that dictate the cost of repairing and cleaning up basement flood damage. Nevertheless, the ordinary charges of repairs after basement flooding varies from $500-$2,500. This may depend on the depth of the water, the size of the basement, the extent of the damage, and the type of the water (clean, storm, or sewage)

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