3 Steps You Should Take After You Find a Broken Pipe

8/23/2019 (Permalink)

Turn off the building's main water supply

Three Steps To Take In The Aftermath Of a Rupture

Winter in Garfield, MN, can quickly chill you to the bone, and inhospitable temperatures aren’t good for your home either. One of the biggest problems homeowners can face during colder weather is damage to plumbing due to frozen water, but breaks can also happen in warmer weather too. Even if you’ve never encountered bursting pipes, it’s best to be prepared so you can act quickly to arrange repairs before mold and other secondary damages occur. Here are three steps you should take in the aftermath of a rupture.

1. Remove as Much Water as Possible

When you discover bursting pipes, your first step should be to limit additional water damage by removing as much liquid from the equation as possible. You can accomplish this by performing a few simple tasks around the house:

• Turn off the building’s main water supply.
  
• Open all faucets to drain hot and cold water.
  
• Flush your toilets to further remove liquid from the system.
  
  

Once you’ve stopped the water from leaking out of the ruptured pipe, you’ll be in a better place to assess the situation and take stock of the building’s flooded areas.

2. Contact Your Insurer

Read your insurance policy carefully to see if you’re covered for damage due to a ruptured pipe. Most insurers will not fix broken pipe situations if the break is the result of homeowner neglect, so arm yourself with maintenance records to answer any questions that come up during the investigation.

3. Begin Cleanup Efforts

Whether your insurer is covering the damage or you’re doing it by yourself, your next call should be to a trusted restoration specialist to start the recovery process. The longer you put this off, the likelihood of secondary damage and mold significantly increases.

Bursting pipes can cause significant damage, but you can take steps to limit the impact of a rupture. By quickly arranging water pipe repair and cleanup from a company that’s Here to Help, you’ll be on the road to a return to normalcy.