What to Do if a Pipe Bursts and Your House Floods

You never saw it coming—now there’s water in your walls, threatening to saturate the insulation, ruining plaster and wood, and damaging your home.

Maybe you never noticed the signs, or it happened unexpectedly. A burst pipe is often a homeowner’s worst nightmare, but there are steps you can take to keep damage to a minimum.

Not sure what to do if a pipe bursts in your home? Don’t worry; read on, and we’ll walk you through which steps you need to take.

Turn off the Water Supply

The first step you should take is to turn off your home’s main water shutoff valve. It’s always a good idea to know where this water supply is located so you can react quickly during times like these.

This will keep new water from entering the area with the damaged pipe. Keep the water off for now. Once you call a plumber, they’ll tell you when it’s safe to turn it back on again.

CDL Newcastle Plumbing services states that is will be safe to turn the water back on again when you get the go ahead from an authorised plumber, otherwise you could be doing more harm.

Open your faucets to drain the remaining water. Doing this helps to relieve pressure in the plumbing. Flush any toilets in the house as well.

If you’re concerned the water might come into contact with electrical sockets or your fuse box, shut off your electricity.

Call Your Plumber

The next step is to call a local plumber for help. The sooner you get to this step, the better, as it can help minimize the damage to your home.

Plumbers will take a look at the problem and diagnose it. They’ll be able to repair or replace the pipes.

There are many reasons a pipe may burst, such as frozen or damaged plumbing. Your plumber may recommend preventative maintenance to prevent pipes from bursting in the future.

If there has been any damage to your electrical system, you may need to call an electrician.

Hire an insurance adjuster

Households are often affected by water damage. This can occur as a result of a burst pipe, a broken pipe, or a leaky roof. An exterior pipe burst that results in water damage to your property should prompt you to file an insurance claim. Most of the time insurance companies don’t cover insurance due to water damages. An insurance adjuster will help you restructure your claims process after your property has been damaged by flooding.

Clean up the Water

The faster you clean up the water, the less likely you are to have mold and mildew problems. Drying the area also reduces the damage done to your walls and floors.

Water damage is a major issue that makes many homeowners nervous, and some damage may be bigger than a DIY fix. Contact a water damage restoration company, like Servicemaster Recovery Services, for water removal and restoration.

No More Wondering What to Do if a Pipe Bursts

Using this information, you now know what to do if a pipe bursts in your home. The sooner you act, the more you can minimize water damage. So, if a pipe bursts in the house, start by shutting off the water and then call in the professionals.

For more home advice like this, check out the other sections on our site before you go.