No one likes to think about burst pipes, but with winter on its way here in Havertown and Springfield, PA, the possibility is always there. The best defense is usually a good offensive, and preventative measures like regularly draining your pipes or installing insulation for problem areas. But if the worst occurs and your pipes do burst, you need to know what to do before it all happens. Frozen and burst pipes can be catastrophic, and people often have a tendency to not think during a moment of crisis. If you have a good idea of what to do when your water pipes burst, the more quickly you can act when the moment comes, and the more damage to your home and property you can prevent. Here’s a quick rundown of the smart steps.
- Turn off the water. Every home owner should know where the valve is that shuts off the water main to their home. The moment you realize a pipe has burst, get to the switch and shut off the water supply before it causes more damage.
- Drain the system. Turning off the water supply can’t account for water already in your plumbing system. Turn on safe taps to drain the water out of your system as soon as the water is off.
- Check for flooding. It sounds like common sense, but you’d be surprised how many homeowners neglect to pinpoint the burst pipe and clean up the water that has already flowed. Once the leaking has been stemmed, the next step is cleaning it up.
- Record everything. Make sure you take pictures of the burst pipe if you can, as well as any damage the water may have caused.
- Contact your insurance company. Homeowners’ insurance usually covers problem like burst pipes, and they may have specific instructions for the best way to get them repaired.
- Call a plumber. Finally, with all of your ducks in a row, it’s time to contact a qualified plumbing service to get your pipes fixed.
WM Henderson Inc. is standing by to help with burst pipes, so give us a call today!