A number of things can go wrong suddenly in basically every household.
Some of these problems can be relatively benign, but there are others you do not want to encounter because they can cause serious damage.
One of them is a burst pipe, which can be pretty detrimental, especially if you do not take the necessary steps immediately, to try to reduce the damage as much as you can.
If you allow it to happen, then you’ll be dealing with a real catastrophe.
This informative article isn’t here to scare you, but to help you out by providing you with some simple yet effective tips that will help you manage this accident the right way.
So, let’s unveil them below!
Why Does This Occur In The First Place?
Before we further delve into this topic, let’s first find out more about the most common causes of burst pipes. What leads to this?
- Massive water pressure can actually add a huge strain on the pipe walls, resulting in burst pipes
- If your pipes are quite old, then this can cause issues such as this one, even if the water pressure is relatively normal. Damaged pipes are a normal occurrence when the pipes are old
- Extremely cold temperatures can also negatively affect your pipes, causing them to burst at some point
Apart from these elements, hard water and invasive tree roots can cause a burst pipe, as well. Whatever the reason may be, it’s pivotal to act fast!
Call Help!
As stated in the beginning, a burst pipe is no joke, and in most instances, that’s a problem that you cannot handle on your own, unless you’re experienced as far as this is concerned.
Unfortunately, many people tend to tackle this on their own to skimp on costs.
What they fail to realize is that by doing so, they’ll cause even bigger damage, which is going to be extremely costly.
Therefore, if you want to prevent that from happening, then you should consider calling a plumber.
After all, they haven’t spent years and years on training for nothing.
If you live in New Jersey, then it would surely be advisable to contact a New Jersey area plumber instantly. Of course, if you reside in another state, then roll up your sleeves and do your homework to hunt down a professional fast!
Keep in mind that this is considered an urgent situation; hence, you do not want to waste your time, but instead hire an expert with real on-the-job experience!
Your House’s Water Supply Must Be Turned Off Immediately!
As soon as you notice that your pipe is burst, you must immediately turn off the main water supply.
Why is this so crucial? By doing so, you won’t permit water to further flow through the burst pipe, and, concurrently, you’ll reduce the damage.
Be sure to first locate the main water valve and notify others who live with you about its location and how to properly employ it.
Even though every household is different in its own way when it comes to this, the main valve is usually found in these areas:
- Below the stairs
- In a hot press, which is normally on the ground floor of your house
- In a boiler house
- Inside a utility room or garage
- Beneath a bathroom sink on the ground floor
- In a cupboard
Don’t Forget To Turn Off The Electricity, Too!
Although it’s a no-brainer, it doesn’t hurt to remind you how crucial it is to prioritize your safety and everyone else who lives with you in these types of situations.
The best thing that you can do after a burst pipe is to turn off the electricity and get rid of any electrical hazards as quickly as possible.
There’s no need to remind you that electricity and water aren’t a good combination at all; on the contrary.
Furthermore, if the pipe that burst is close to the electrical appliances, then make sure to put them somewhere else once the power is shut down.
By doing something like this, you will not only implement one of the most efficient safety strategies, but you will also keep other catastrophes at bay.
Time For Some Cleaning!
In case you didn’t know, water can be a pretty challenging enemy, meaning that in a lot of cases, it can be very detrimental, and completely ruin your rugs, home’s structure, furniture, appliances, etc.
That’s precisely why you must move all these things to a place that isn’t affected by water, that’s dry, and then focus on cleaning up the water.
Be sure to employ a wet/dry vacuum to eliminate the standing water.
Fans and a dehumidifier can help you properly decrease excess moisture.
Additionally, if you are facing serious water damage, then there’s no point in doing this all by yourself.
Instead, it would be much smarter to call emergency cleaning services because they have the necessary tools that will help them return your household to its previous condition.
Find A Way To Contain Water
If you’re dealing with a burst pipe, then it means that you must urgently find a way to contain the water. But don’t fret, this isn’t as difficult as it may appear to be at first glance.
One of the most effective steps you can take is to simply put a big bucket below the pipe to minimize the damage as much as you can.
In these instances, it’s always advisable to have an extra one, just in case you need to quickly replace the one you previously placed.
Bear in mind that this is far from a permanent solution, but simply something that will “calm” this chaotic situation for a bit, until professional help comes.
At the end of the day, do you honestly think that just one bucket (or two) can save the day? If it accidentally overflows, it’s going to certainly cause massive damage.
These types of situations must be taken seriously if you don’t want to deal with costly damages.
As you can see, certain strategies can help you out, so be sure to implement everything that was suggested above.
