You’ve Got A Burst Pipe – What Do You Do Now?

One of the biggest winter nightmares is a burst pipe! As outside temperatures get lower, the chance of a pipe bursting increases exponentially. Especially in older homes, pipes bursting is a major concern for many homeowners. If you don’t get this problem taken care of as soon as possible, you may experience damage to your home, personal property, or health. 

If you have to deal with a burst pipe this winter, do your best not to freak out – call First Response Disaster Restoration Specialists to help with any damages and repairs. When you call us, you can rest assured that our experienced and reliable contractors will be there to assist as soon as possible. If a pipe bursts in your home this winter, here are 3 steps to take to get on the road to repair!

1. Turn off the water at your very first suspicion of a burst pipe. 

As soon as you have reason to believe there may be a burst pipe on or around your property, turn off the water flow. Regardless of whether you know where the water is coming from or not, you want to make sure the flow has stopped. The water stop tap is located on the water main, typically located either under your kitchen sink or wherever your main service pipe connects to your house. (Side note: if you don’t know where the water main in your home is, find out ASAP! Every member of the household should know where this is located in case of emergency.)

After the main water switch is off, drain the pipes. Do so by running cold water from all the faucets in the home, and flush each toilet at least once. Next, shut off the hot water heater and run hot water from all the faucets in the home. After this, the leak should stop. 

2. Locate and inspect the problem area.

Once the water is drained from your pipes, go ahead and locate where the pipe has burst. When you have found the problem area, inspect the extent of the damage. The damage caused by a pipe freezing and bursting can vary based on many different factors. According to Risk & Insurance, “At best, a burst pipe results in water damage to floors and carpeting. At worst, it can require a total building overhaul.” 

Unfortunately, regardless of how big the break itself is, major pipes tend to take more time, effort, and money to replace, simply because those pipes have more connections branching off of them and carry more water. On the other hand, if it’s just a pipe under the sink that bursts, you’re going to have an easier time replacing and repairing it (not to mention being easier on your wallet). However, our experienced professionals at First Response Disaster Restoration Specialists are here to provide you with quality care at an affordable price. Your safety and the safety of your family is our number one priority.

3. Call First Response Disaster Restoration Specialists to help take care of the rest!

We strongly advise against trying to DIY your burst pipe. Although it may be tempting to use a commercial tape or chemical bonding agent to repair the burst pipe yourself, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Plus, if you fix it yourself, you’ll definitely want to keep an eye on the spot of pipe you repaired. An incorrectly patched pipe may burst again, so leave it up to the professionals at First Response Disaster Restoration Specialists! 

When residents and business owners of South Bend need to call in a team to repair a burst pipe, their first thought is to call First Response Disaster Restoration Specialists. You’ll struggle to find a better option in South Bend, as our experienced and reliable contractors have been honing their skills for years. Don’t wait – call First Response today!