6 Things You Can Do If a Pipe Bursts Within Your Property

For anyone who owns a property, there are certain issues that might pop up over time – things like a damaged roof, windows that don't work right, or your heating and cooling system getting worn out from years of use. Those are all things you need to keep an eye on as a property owner. But there's one problem that you should be extra careful about: pipe bursts.

Burst pipes are a big headache that no one wants to deal with. They can cause mold to grow in your building and even make things like furniture get messed up. These pipes can be a real pain, especially during the colder months. But here's the good news: experts have some advice if you ever find yourself dealing with burst pipes. They've got a few things you can do to handle the situation.

1. Turn Off the Water Main - Of course, when a pipe bursts in your property, you can expect water to start spraying everywhere, even if they are located behind your walls. As such, if you’re building or home is suffering from a burst pipe, one of the first things you should do is turn off the water main. If there’s any danger of the water reaching any electrical sockets or the fuse box, be sure to turn off the electricity as well. When trying to turn off the water supply in your home, you can usually find the shut-off valve somewhere in the basement, crawl spaces, or areas close to the water heater. If you’re trying to locate the valve in a commercial building, on the other hand, you can usually find it under a metal lid on your property near the street.

2. Drain the Faucets - After you’ve turned off the water supply, water and fire damage restoration pros recommend that you also drain the faucets. When doing so, experts say that you should first drain the remaining cold water from the system. That way, you can reduce the chance of leftover water freezing or building up further pressure inside the pipes.

Once you’ve drained the cold water from your taps, you can now move on to draining the hot water. To do this, simply shut off your water boiler and heating system and turn on your hot taps to release the hot water from your faucets.

3. Let Warm Air In - If you live in an area that sees snow and ice during the winter season, the cold temperatures can be the reason why your pipes burst in the first place. As such, if your pipes burst from frozen or cold water, water damage experts recommend that you let some warm air in after you’ve drained the remaining water from your taps. To accomplish this, you can either turn the heat back on and hike up the thermostat or simply point a hair dryer at the pipe that froze. If your pipes are hidden behind cabinet doors, meanwhile, you can also consider opening them to let warm air circulate.

4. Clean Up the Mess - When a pipe bursts in a home or a building, there’s a high chance that the broken pipe has spewed water everywhere. If this is indeed the case for you, it’s highly recommended that you clean up the mess immediately to prevent mold and mildew growth. To do this, remove everything you can from the affected area and start mopping up the water as soon as you can. If the flooding has reached a few inches, meanwhile, consider using a submersible pump or a wet/dry vacuum before drying everything up. 

In the event of standing water, on the other hand, quickly unplug any electronics you have to prevent electrocution. After you’ve removed the water as well as everything else that was ruined by it, you can disinfect the entire area to prevent mold and mildew growth on your own or with the aid of mold prevention specialists.

5. Document the Damage and File a Claim - Now that you’ve contained the emergency and handled your water problem, water damage restoration pros say that the next step you can take is to document the damage. Take photos and detailed notes of the mishap and do the same to any damaged possessions and areas of your property. That way, you’ll have as much evidence and information as possible when filing your insurance claim. If your insurance adjuster asks for it, you can also provide the photos and notes you took to make claiming your settlement much smoother.

6. Take Preventive Measures - Since you’ve already experienced suffering from a burst pipe, there’s no doubt that you’d like to avoid experiencing it once again. Thankfully, with the aid of experts, this is a task that can be easily accomplished. For starters, you can always consider winterizing your home by adding insulation to keep rooms and pipes from freezing during the cold months. If you have any exposed pipes, on the other hand, you can also apply pipe sleeves or heat tape to prevent them from freezing during the winter season.

Other solutions for preventing frozen pipes include draining outdoor hoses when it starts to get too cold, keeping a consistent temperature on your thermostat, and letting cold water drip from your faucets when the day’s temperatures are below freezing. For assistance in applying measures that can prevent your pipes from bursting during the winter season, simply turn to the experts of Anderson Restoration LLC to get the job done for you.

You can rely on us! Give us a call at (281) 376-7474 or fill out our contact form to get in touch with us and receive a free estimate!

Looking for expert restoration companies who can help you keep your home in good shape? Don’t hesitate to turn to the pros of Anderson Restoration LLC. When it comes to roofing and restoration services, we are the number one pros to turn to and we won’t let you down! We have more than 30 years of experience in the restoration and roofing industry and therefore, whether it’s for a residential or commercial property, we are committed to giving you the best products and services possible.