Coming home to a burst pipe in your home in Denver, CO is absolutely a water emergency. In fact, unless you catch it right away, it could cause a great amount of water to flood your home. Aside from turning off your water with the main shutoff valve, the best thing you can do to help remedy the situation is reach out to a professional plumber.
Steps to Take While You Wait
While you’re waiting for a plumber to arrive, there are a few steps you can take to help minimize the damage. Here’s what to do in case of an emergency.
1. Shut Off the Water
As mentioned above, you’ll begin by immediately shutting off your water. But before you can do this, you’ll need to know where your main water shut off valve is located. Therefore, familiarize yourself with its location before you face any water-related issues. It could be in several places, but these are the four most common spots:
- Crawl space
- Basement
- Outside
- Utility closet
Once you’ve located the main water shutoff valve, use brightly colored tape to make it stand out. After all, you might not be thinking clearly during an emergency, so it’s critical to make sure you’ll see it.
2. Drain Water From Your Pipes
Next, run your faucets, and flush your toilets. This will drain your pipes, along with relieving any built-up pressure. It’s also vital to turn off the power to your house if there is any chance the water could reach electrical appliances.
3. Clear Any Obstacles
Once a plumber arrives, they’ll need to have easy access to the burst pipe. If there is anything in the way, be sure to remove it from their path. Ideally, the area will always be clean and free of obstacles just in case.
What Causes Pipes to Burst?
Your pipes could burst for a number of different reasons. Staying on top of the situation is the best way to prevent your pipes from bursting.
High Water Pressure
Getting the pressure right is a critical aspect of keeping your pipes in good condition. If the water pressure is too low, you’ll have a hard time taking a decent shower. However, if the water pressure is too high, it could eventually cause major issues, including a burst pipe.
Frozen Pipes
Another potential issue is frozen pipes. If you’ve ever heard of someone who allows their faucets to run a little bit in the coldest part of winter, then you’ve already got a good idea of how dangerous a frozen pipe can be. Essentially, whenever it drops below freezing, you’ll have to take special care to ensure your pipes don’t freeze.
Aside from running the water, you can try adding insulation to your pipes, draining every exterior line or simply turning up the heat inside your Denver home. Please be aware that this problem can become even more pronounced in an older home. Your best bet is to turn the water off altogether whenever you go on vacation in the winter.
Tree Roots
If you’ve got any big, old trees on your property, they could be the cause of a burst pipe. Tree roots seek out moisture and nutrients. Having a tree placed close to your home can turn into a recipe for disaster because its roots might be able to get inside your pipes via cracks in the ground. Once they find their way into a pipe, it’s only a matter of time before the entire pipe bursts.
Corrosion
Metal pipes can weaken over time due to corrosion. If your pipes are made of galvanized iron, for instance, they’ll be particularly susceptible to mineral deposits. The best way to solve this problem is by replacing your old metal pipes with copper or PEX piping.
Ageing
No matter what piping material you have in your Denver home, it will eventually break down. If you’ve got an older material such as galvanized iron, it’s in your best interests to replace your pipes before one of them bursts. It will cause you some minor inconvenience, but it’ll be much better than coming home to a flooded house.
Hard Water
When you think of hard water, your mind probably goes to how it causes issues such as dry skin and soap scum. However, it also increases your risk of suffering from a burst pipe. This is yet another reason to carefully consider a water softener.
Other reasons your pipe could burst include:
- Clogs
- Rusty pipes
- Blocked pipes
- Soil shifting
- Poor installation
- Ground movements
What to Do After a Plumber Fixes the Problem
Unfortunately, getting your pipe fixed is only the beginning. Now, it’s time to deal with all the excess water. Whether you have a locally contained issue or your entire home is flooded, it’s absolutely imperative to remove the water right away. Otherwise, you’ll have a new problem as mold and mildew take over your house.
Cleaning up the water is a multi-pronged process. Begin with a mop and some towels and use them to remove standing water. If you’ve had a really big flood, your next step will be to rent a wet vacuum from a local hardware store. Additionally, it’s imperative to open your doors and windows. You can also try using fans, a dehumidifier and moisture-absorbing products. Finally, any soaked furniture or rugs should be taken outside and, in most cases, must be thrown away.
Please note: It might be necessary to contact a water mitigation company if you’ve suffered from significant water damage. Be sure to call them right away. The longer your home has standing water in it, the higher the chances of mold and mildew setting in.
Take Photos of the Damage
It’s wise to take photographs of anything in your home that was damaged by water. That way, you’ll have proof for your insurance company. Keep your receipts if you need to immediately replace anything. Also, be sure to hang onto your plumber’s receipt. This was part of your overall costs, and you’ll want to get reimbursed for it.
File an Insurance Claim
As long as you’ve got a homeowner’s policy, you should be able to file an insurance claim for water damage. Contact your insurance company right away to get the process started.
Consider Checking Into a Hotel
When you’ve suffered from major flooding, it’s vital that you don’t stay in your house until it’s been cleaned up. Be sure to ask your insurance agent if you’ve got coverage to stay in a hotel. You should also have a mold inspector go through your property before you return. Otherwise, you could easily end up suffering from the many symptoms of mold and mildew exposure, including:
- Respiratory problems
- Headaches
- Irritated eyes and lungs
- Fatigue
- Asthma attacks
Denver Plumbers Can Fix Your Burst Pipe
Summit Heating, A/C, Plumbing & Electrical is here to help if you suffer from a burst pipe. Additionally, our expert team can address any other plumbing issues you have, including drain repair, drain cleaning, boilers, sump pumps, leak detection and sewer repair and replacement. We’ve been helping Denver homeowners since 1998, and we offer emergency services. When you’re facing plumbing issues, be sure to make us your first call.
Has a pipe burst in your house? Contact a professional plumber at Summit Heating, A/C, Plumbing & Electrical to address the problem with our pipe repair!
