Handling a burst pipe

Burst pipes or hot water systems are a confronting problem when they “pop”. They cause panic as well as mess. Plumbers confront these situations every day, and there are some steps you can take before they arrive.

 

Turn the water off

Find the stop valve as soon as you can and turn it. This will cut water to the property. Once you’ve done that, no more water will flow through the pipes. This will stop excess leaking.

Burst pipes are also a pain from a financial standpoint. At least by shutting off the water, you’re protecting yourself from the meter reading going up, and therefore your water bill.

 

Electricity and heat

Electricity and water don’t mix, plain and simple. Shut the electricity off as best as you can before finding the hot water. If there’s a burst pipe around the hot water tank, this is more dangerous. If you’re not careful, you can get injuries from the scalding temperatures. You don’t want a trip to the hospital on top of your plumbing issues. Plumbers advise leaving these pipes and areas alone unless you have training.

 

Start cleaning

Burst pipes are messy occupational hazards. One misstep and someone can slip and get a serious injury. After you’ve shut off the water, nothing else should leak. This makes it easy for you to get a broom or mop and start cleaning out the excess water.

After the plumber is done, or even while they work, get some antiseptic and wipe the floor down. Pipe water isn’t tainted unless it comes from backflow or a septic tank. It’s better, though, to be safe than sorry.

Handling a burst pipe doesn’t mean trying to fix the problem yourself. This can lead to more damage and some serious injuries. The plumber will know what to do so that the water flows again sooner rather than later.