Dealing with burst water pipes is a huge pain, especially when it’s cold outside. Sometimes even the most careful planning and insulating is no match for Mother Nature. If you hear what sounds like a gurgling brook inside or outside your house once the weather is above freezing, it’s time to jump into action.
Turn Off the Water
Water expands when it freezes, but that isn’t necessarily where the pipe breaks. Just like all things under pressure, when the water warms up, it looks for a weak link in the pipe. The first thing you should do is turn off the water to the whole house until you can determine the location of the leak.
Find the Burst Pipe
Hopefully, finding the leak will be obvious. If you’re lucky, the damaged pipe will be in an accessible place outside the house, and you’ll recognize it because of the soggy ground. If you’re unlucky, it will be in a wall upstairs, and a saturated carpet may provide your biggest clue. After you locate the damaged pipe, keep looking because if you have one burst pipe, you might have several. Check the line leading to your tankless water heaters Pleasanton CA as well as your ice machine. Don’t forget pipes in the garage or basement.
Drain the Extra Water
To relieve pressure on the lines, turn on the faucets and drain the remaining water. Catch as much of it as you can since your water may be shut off for a time. It may take several days to contact a licensed plumber, especially if there was an extreme weather event that caused many pipes in the area to break. Any water you can capture can be used to flush toilets. You can also drink this water if the city isn’t under a boil water notice.
Document the Damage
Before you begin cleanup, take pictures of any damage the burst pipe caused for insurance purposes. Next, mop up excess water quickly to prevent mold or mildew from growing.
Recovering from a burst pipe is manageable if you act quickly to prevent further damage.
