What Should I Do When a Pipe Bursts in My Home?

In Houston, Texas, homeowners wonder what to do when a burst pipe floods their homes. Though the problem rarely happens, it’s important to know what to do when a pipe bursts somewhere in your home. Homeowners with no knowledge of the subject often face massive water damage to their floors, walls, and precious possessions. Most of which can easily be prevented if taken care of quickly.

However, Fix Up Pros knows how to help homeowners in need when their pipes burst. Our plumbers detail the causes, the indicators, and how to remediate them. It’s easier than you think! When you follow these tips, your home suffers less water damage and the pipe in question becomes as good as new in no time.

Pipe Burst Causes

Several causes explain why pipes bursts. Many factors come into play, but there are some common causes that you might experience from time to time. A burst pipe rarely happens overnight, so keep an eye on your plumbing system all year round. Here are some of the most common causes:

Corrosion: Firstly, corrosion is a common cause for plumbing bursts. Corrosion occurs because of imbalances in the water’s PH levels. In either case, the corrosion happens over a long period of time until the pipe finally gives out. Rust and pH imbalances compromise the strength of the pipe, which leads to leaking and bursts.

Freezing: In places with harsh winters, frozen pipes are a large problem. When temperatures fall below 32 degrees, the water in the pipes freezes. This causes the bonds in the pipe to weaken, which leads to bursts. If you experience long, cold winters, keep your home warm to avoid this issue.

Movement: Pipe movement occurs accidentally in most circumstances. Sometimes, pipes shift after winter because the cold temperature causes the pipes to contract. Other times, shifts occur because of repairs to other parts of the plumbing or if the water pressure becomes too high and shakes the pipes.

Clogging: Water pressure also increases because of clogging anywhere in the plumbing. When the clog is close to the drain, they don’t cause too much trouble for the plumbing system. However, if a clog forms deep in the pipe, the water pressure builds around the clog. When the pressure becomes too great for the metal to handle, it results in a burst pipe.

Signs of a Burst Pipe

These signs are harder to find if you don’t know what to look for. If you notice more than one of the below issues, you definitely have a burst pipe on your hands:

Puddles: If a puddle starts forming when you turn on the water, it’s most likely a burst. Small drips are usually indicators of a leak. With a burst, the water pools under the pipes, but also moves through walls.

Water pressure problems: Water pressure also indicates a problem because a burst affects how well water travels through the pipes. Low water pressure may be an indicator of a burst or leak.

Wall stains: Stains occur for a few reasons, but large water stains on walls usually indicate a problem with the pipes. These stains also may appear on the ceiling. The location of the stain points to the place where the pipe burst in most cases.

Discolored water: Discoloration of water also may be an indicator of a burst pipe. However, strange colors might be caused by other issues as well. For example, brownish water stems from high concentrations of manganese but doesn’t necessarily mean the pipe burst. Still, reddish water usually indicates rust in the pipes, which does lead to bursts. If you notice dirt in the water, it might be an indicator of a burst underground pipe. Keep an eye on the color of your water and if any other signs appear.

High water bill: High water bills are often a sign of burst pipes. Excess amounts of water leak through the soil, which wastes water and adds to your bill. Additionally, because a burst affects water pressure, homeowners often have to use more water than normal to achieve satisfactory pressure.

Dripping noise: Dripping sounds on the walls are another sign. If you hear a constant drip, but know your faucets aren’t the cause, a pipe inside the wall is a likely cause for the noise. Additionally, check your other water fixtures before you assume a burst. Toilets, sinks, or tubs also make water noises from time to time. Eliminate those causes so you’re sure the pipes are the cause.

Pipe noises: Finally, metallic clangs and other pipe noises sometimes indicate pipe movement, which leads to leaks and bursts. The pipes often shake when water flows through them and might break. In normal circumstances, homeowners rarely hear the water in the pipes, but a burst pipe moves more depending on the size of the break and where it is located on the pipe.

Now, What Should I Do About It?

Homeowners have more control over pipe bursts than they think. While actual repairs must be left to professionals, there are some things you are able to do to minimize the water damage.

Turn off the main Valve: Before anything else, turn off the main water supply. You don’t want any new water in the plumbing system when there is a burst. The water present in the system is much easier to deal with than any new flow. Hold off on turning the water back on until the plumber says that you are able to.

Call a plumber. Next, call a plumber. Do this as soon as you can to keep the damage at a minimum. You never know when the plumber is able to come to your home, so call as soon as possible to keep the wait time down. The plumber diagnoses the cause, talks about solutions and fixes the problem. Preventative maintenance also prevents a burst from happening, so schedule maintenance visits throughout the year to keep this problem at bay.

Wipe the leaks: Wipe away any leaks quickly to avoid excess water damage. Some water damage is inevitable when a pipe bursts, but the sooner you wipe the water, the less likely you experience irreparable damage to your possessions. Fast cleanup also prevents mold and mildew growth. The longer the water stays, the more likely these microbes are to grow, so clean and dry the area as quickly as possible.

Drain faucets: Turn on your faucets to remove the excess water left in the system. Water removal takes some of the pressure off the pipes and ensures they’re dry so no more water leaks through. Flush toilets multiple times to drain the water out of those. Start with cold water, then move on to hot water. Make sure that your water heater is off when you do this.

Let in warm air: Frozen pipes must warm up slowly to prevent further damage. To do this, turn up the heat in your home. If the heat still isn’t enough, use a hair dryer to warm the pipes. This slowly heats up the pipes to prevent any more breaks. Drastic changes in temperature may cause the pipe to burst. Also, keep the doors and closets open to make sure that the warm temperature slowly circulates through your house. This also helps dry out any moisture more quickly to prevent further damage to your property.

Repair sleeve: Repair sleeves temporarily fix a burst pipe. Slip the sleeve on the pipe to cover the hole or mend the break. For a short time, this keeps the water in the pipe so you are able to use your water throughout your home. However, this fix is temporary, so don’t use it for too long. Call a plumber to repair the pipe as soon as possible.

Rather than facing the aftermath of burst pipes, use these tips to combat water damage the right way as pipes burst. Not only does this lessen the damage, but it also ensures that you don’t waste water, which keeps your water bill at a normal rate. However, if the situation is worse than you can handle please contact us (Fix Up Pros) for a professional plumber inspection.