An average American family of four uses about 400 gallons of water every day. What happens to all that water if a pipe bursts?
Do you know what to do when a pipe bursts? With all that water, you have a lot of clean up to do. Water damage can wreak havoc on your home causing foundation issues, mold, and damage to walls or cabinets depending on location.
Here’s what you need to do when you have a burst pipe.
1. Turn Off the Water
The first thing you need to do after you discover a leak is to turn off the water. This can help minimize the damage if you turn off the water as soon as possible. Your main water shut-off valve is probably near your water heater, so check your basement or in a crawl space.
After you turn off the water, drain the remaining water out of your faucets to relieve pressure in your pipe systems. Flush all the toilets. After all the water is drained, your leak should stop.
Depending on the location and size of the leak, you may need to shut off your electricity. If you think the water came in contact with any of your electrical outlets or fuse box, it’s important to turn off the electricity immediately.
2. Find the Pipe
Now you need to figure out which pipe bursts. If it seems it has been leaking for a while, be careful when you enter the room. Look for warning signs of water damage like bulging ceilings.
Put a bucket under the leak if you catch it early enough to catch the drips.
3. Call for Help
You should call the experts as soon as possible to fix your pipes. If you have damage to your electrical system, you will also need to hire an experienced electrician.
The cost to fix this problem depends on the repair and cleanup.
4. Prepare for a Claim
If you need to file an insurance claim, make sure you take pictures of the damaged pipework along with the standing water to document for your insurance company. You will also need to take note of damaged items.
Start moving water-damaged items out of the area. However, don’t throw them away just yet. They may be recoverable.
5. Start Cleaning Up
It’s important to dry the wet areas as fast as possible. If water sits too long, it can cause more damage.
Use towels to soak up as much water as possible. Clear out the area. If there are a few inches of water, you will need a submersible pump or wet vac.
After you get the water cleaned up, now is the time to help the area dry. Use fans and space heaters to help areas dry quicker. You may want to hold off on the AC if water got in your ductwork.
Experts Know What to Do When a Pipe Bursts
Remember to turn off your water immediately if you have a water pipe burst. It’s best to call the experts because they know what to do when a pipe bursts. They can help you fix the damage.
Looking for help with expert water damage removal, contact Cutting Edge Restoration today. Our professional team will help remove the water and also restore any water damage.