How to Deal With a Burst Pipe & Tips for Reducing the Risk in the Future

7/9/2021 (Permalink)

Dealing with a burst water pipe sucks. Here are some tips to mitigate the damage. Then call us at (818) 754-0050 for fast clean up service!

A burst pipe is one of the worst things for a homeowner to find. The squish of a sopping wet carpet. The smell of wet drywall. And water, water everywhere! To be frank, it sucks. Owning a home can be a major headache, especially when you have a plumbing problem. Unfortunately, no matter how much you hope it won't happen to you, a pipe bursting in your home is a real possibility. Here are a few tips to help you handle the situation.

What to Do When a Pipe Bursts in Your Home

Ideally, you would spot the signs of a busted water pipe before severe water damage occurs. But who among us thinks about inspecting our plumbing system? Out of sight, out of mind, right? If you find a burst water pipe, a leaking water heater or another unexpected source of water, some damage has already been done. But you can mitigate further water damage by taking immediate action.

Turn off Your Water

First things first, turn off your water main. Cutting off the source of the water as soon as possible will help minimize the water damage. If you're unsure where to find the water shut-off valve, look around the inside and outside of your home a couple of feet up from ground level. Crawl spaces, basements and garages are other places to look for the shut-off valve.

Drain the Faucets

Once you've shut off the water, open your faucets and flush your toilets multiple times to drain the remaining cold water. This is common in areas at risk for freezing to reduce ice build-up in the pipes. But even in the warm climate of Los Angeles, doing this will also relieve any pent-up pressure inside the pipes.

Call a Plumber

As soon as you’ve reduced the risk of further water damage, call your local plumber. Plumbing systems and pipes are complicated, and you shouldn’t attempt to repair them yourself and risk making things worse. A licensed plumber will determine the cause, suggest a solution and fix the problem properly.

Once the plumber has fixed your broken pipe, it doesn’t mean this can't again. Schedule regular maintenance visits to prevent future disasters.

Clean Up the Mess

The final step of the recovery process is to clean up the affected areas. Cleaning up water damage isn’t easy to do on your own, but there are things you can do while waiting for help to arrive. And professional restoration help is just a call away! Call SERVPRO of North Hollywood for water mitigation and water damage restoration services anytime, 24/7. We're faster to any size water disaster in Los Angeles, North Hollywood, Toluca Lake and Universal City.

Preventing a Water Damage Disaster

You know what they say—prevention is the best cure! It's impossible to prevent every plumbing leak, including burst water pipes. But you can take precautions to reduce the risk.

Below are some things you can do to reduce the risk of water pipe bursts:

• Run water faucets regularly to reduce pressure build up
• Ensure pipes and plumbing systems are properly insulated
• If the weather forecast predicts near-freezing temps, disconnect hoses from outdoor faucets and keep things warm inside. You can also leave cabinet doors open to warm things up during a cold snap.

Once a pipe bursts, there’s little you can do but deal with it. Preventing serious water damage from a burst pipe requires fast-thinking and quick action. Every minute matters, and hesitation can result in expensive and extensive repairs.

Following these tips and preventive measures will reduce the risk of a major disaster. But if a pipe bursts, don't wait: call the water damage restoration pros to restore your property to it's preloss condition ASAP!

Our highly-trained restoration specialists are certified to IICRC standards for water damage cleanup and water mitigation. We can be on-site anywhere in Los Angeles in as little as 1 hour. Call us at (818) 754-0050 and make a pipe burst disaster "Like it never even happened."