Found A Burst Or Broken Pipe In Your Home? Here's What To Do

If you walk into your kitchen, bathroom, or elsewhere in your home and discover a pipe that is broken or has burst, you realize you've got a plumbing emergency taking place. While it's important to call a plumber immediately, there are also numerous steps you can take to get the situation under better control until help arrives. To make sure you're not left wondering what to do should you encounter this situation, here's what you need to know.

Signs You've Got a Burst Pipe in Your House

When a pipe bursts in your home, there will be obvious and not so obvious signs. Some indicators of a burst pipe include:

1. Water pressure fluctuation

2. Discolored or smelly water

3. Dripping noises inside your walls

4. Puddles under sinks

5. Mold and mildew growth

6. Water marks and dampness on walls

7. Higher water bills

What Can Cause a Pipe to Burst?

Here at Boss Plumbing, we know there are many things that can cause a pipe to burst in your home. The most common reasons are freezing weather, blocked pipes from drains or toilets, pipes that are old and corroded, lack of regular plumbing maintenance or tree roots growing within the pipes.

What To Do When You Find a Burst Pipe

When you discover a burst or broken pipe in your home, don't panic. While you may have water in plenty of places that are supposed to be dry, this is what you need to do to contain the damage:

1. Shut off the water

2. Open up faucets to relieve water pressure

3. Allow warm air to reach your pipes

4. Put a rubber repair sleeve over the broken part of the pipe

5. Call a plumber immediately

How to Fix a Burst Pipe Yourself

After you've got the water shut off and the situation a bit more under control, you can take the following steps as a temporary fix to the burst pipe until your Boss Plumbing plumber arrives:

1.    Gather the necessary tools

This should include slip-joint pliers, a C-clamp, and either silicone tape or a rubber repair sleeve to place over the broken part of the pipe.

2.    Ensure the water is shut off

Making sure the water is shut off is important to help prevent any more damage from happening. If possible, do so at the valve closest to the burst pipe.

3.    Place C-clamp on both sides of the pipe's broken area

This will stabilize the pipe to ensure no further damage takes place while you make repairs.

4.    Wrap with silicone tape and/or rubber repair sleeve

Each of these will create a short-term fix by creating a pressure-resistant and watertight seal on the pipe.

When to Call a Professional Plumber

If you have water that is quickly flooding your home, you are unsure about what to do, or your best efforts at repairing the broken pipe have not helped the situation, you need to call a professional plumber. Remember, the longer you let a plumbing emergency fester, the more damage will take place, which usually means a higher repair cost as well.

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Should You Try to Fix a Broken or Burst Pipe Outside Your Home?

Generally, we recommend you not try to fix a broken or burst pipe located outside your home. In most cases, these pipes are the responsibility of your locality, since they are considered to be in public spaces. Instead, call your local Public Works Department and inform them of the problem.

Prevention and Maintenance

To avoid water damage and a house flooded from a burst or broken pipe, there are preventive steps you can take along the way, including:

1. Protect your pipes from freezing

2. Insulate your pipes

3. Maintain them on a regular basis

4. Inspect your pipes several times per year for signs of rust or corrosion

Don't ignore warning signs. When you notice damp walls, puddles under sinks, or see corrosion on your pipes, address the problem immediately and take action to repair it, rather than hope it goes away on its own, which it won't.

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If you've got a plumbing emergency due to a burst pipe or broken pipe, contact us here at Boss Plumbing. Since we're available 24/7 for our customers here in Los Angeles and surrounding communities, you can count on us to solve your problem.