Serving Forth Worth & the 
As a homeowner, you’ll find that there are many different domestic situations you’ll need to deal with. One of the more frustrating tasks is dealing with a burst pipe. We’ll offer some tips for handling this emergency and avoiding it in the future.
Kill the Water Supply
When you notice a burst pipe in your home, the first thing you need to do is shut off the water supply going to that pipe. If there is a shutoff valve close to where the pipe burst, then use that one to stop the flow of water in that area. This will allow you to still use water and other fixtures of your home without allowing the burst area to continue to leak.
If you can’t find any smaller shutoff valves that control the one section of piping that you’re having the issue with, then shut off your main water supply valve. It’s never a good idea to continue to let the water run while you wait for a professional to arrive, as it doesn’t take long for water to create a massive amount of permanent damage to your home.
Check for Saturation of Electrical Components
It’s no surprise that water and electricity simply don’t mix. Before you head into the area where your pipe burst, check the entire location for any areas where the water came into contact with any electrical components. If any outlets or electrical devices are submerged in water, avoid entering the area, as it could be highly dangerous.
Instead, head to your electrical panel box, and shut off the power to that part of your home. You never want to enter a room where there is water on the floor and live power still going to it. It’s important to have an electrician further evaluate any potential damage to your electrical devices before turning the power back on to that area of your home.
Remove the Water
The next thing that you need to do is try to eliminate the excess water that is pooling on the ground underneath where the pipe has burst. The quicker you can soak up that water, the less possibility it will have to permanently damage whatever it comes into contact with. While you may not be able to completely dry the area quickly, do your best to remove as much water as possible from it right away. If you have portable fans, turn them on to help dry out the flooded area.
Document the Damage
If the burst pipe has caused a lot of water to accumulate in your home, then you’ll likely want to report the issue to your home insurance company and make a claim. It’s important to make a complete list of any damaged property that you have as a result of the burst pipe. Be sure to document everything with digital photos to ensure that you can provide whatever information your insurance claims adjuster may need. All this is going to be necessary to ensure that your insurance claim is properly paid out.
Call the Plumber
The logical next step that you need to take is to contact one of our knowledgeable plumbers at Cattlemans Plumbing. They’ll be able to assess the situation and determine if there are any other structural issues with your piping before repairing the leak. Many times, when a pipe experiences freezing, it will develop distortions that wreck the structural integrity of the pipe.
Instead of just repairing a particular location and waiting for the next pipe to burst, it makes sense to replace the entire section of piping. Avoid trying to do plumbing repairs on your own, as DIY projects don’t come with a warranty, and your homeowner’s insurance policy may not cover the cost.
File an Insurance Claim
If there is enough damage to warrant an insurance claim, you’ll want to contact your homeowners insurance company as soon as possible. If the leak is in a location that you’re able to shut off water to while still being able to use all your other plumbing fixtures, then it’s common practice to wait until the insurance adjuster comes out to assess the damage before you get the pipe repaired.
However, if the pipe burst in a location of piping that you rely on every single day, then you’ll likely want to call a plumber first to repair the issue and have an insurance adjuster come in after that.
Tips on Preventing Burst Water Pipes
Dealing with a burst water pipe can be extremely frustrating, to say the least. Fortunately, there are various things that you can do as a homeowner to help drastically reduce your risk of experiencing a burst pipe in your home. One of the most obvious is to prevent any of your pipes from freezing up during the winter months.
The problem with water freezing inside your piping is that it will expand in size as it turns into ice. This pushes out on the piping and causes distortion that can lead to cracking and a burst once the line thaws out or shortly after. To prevent your pipes from freezing, it’s always a good idea to leave the thermostat set to at least at 55 degrees Fahrenheit. This holds true even if you go on vacation. If you have any plumbing lines that head to the outdoors, such as for your hose or for your irrigation system, be sure to shut off water to those lines and properly drain them before the winter.
If you have any unheated locations where you need water in the winter, consider adding a heating cable to the pipe. This cable wraps around the pipe and has a built-in thermostat powered by electricity that will turn on the heating element inside the cable whenever temperatures dip near freezing.
Getting a regular inspection of your plumbing system is also a great way to help catch any potential problems while they’re small and easy to fix. If you happen to notice any leaking of your pipes, even if they’re very small leaks, it’s best to have one of our plumbers address them promptly. You never want to let these leaks go unaddressed, as they can turn into burst pipes that can create a lot of damage to your home.
Additionally, it’s important to upgrade your piping regularly. As piping starts to deteriorate, its connections will loosen up and allow leakage to occur. It can experience corrosion that can eat through the piping and cause leaking as well. One of our plumbing professionals can let you know how much longer your plumbing is likely to last and when an upgrade is likely to be necessary.
Trustworthy Plumbing Repair Service
Cattlemans Plumbing offers trustworthy plumbing repair service for the Fort Worth, TX community. We can also help with all your commercial, construction, and plumbing needs. Call our friendly staff today to book your next service consultation with one of our expert plumbers.
