Help – My Water Pipe Burst!

Your water pipe has burst causing gallons of water to gush out. This can be a stressful situation for anyone to have to deal with. How do you deal with this? In this article we will look at possible causes for water pipe bursts, what damage it does, how to temporarily stop any water gushing out while waiting for the plumber and how to prevent this from happening again.

Causes For Water Pipe Bursts

There are many reasons for why a pipe might experience enough stress and pressure that it causes a burst, however we will have a look at three main reasons:

• Movement
  If you hear a shuddering noise that seems to be coming from your roof whenever you turn the taps on and off, this is called water hammering. This means that the pipes were not properly secured and therefore movement takes place every time they are used. This movement gradually weakens the joints in the pipe until it fails, causing catastrophic results.
• Water Pressure
  Water pressure in most homes ranges between 30 – 50 psi (pounds per square inch) and generally does not exceed 70 psi. Your water pressure can be checked by a plumber by disconnecting the water supply, attaching a pressure gauge to your sink spout and turning on the faucet. The gauge will show a reading, hopefully somewhere between 30 – 5- psi. If your water pressure is too high, you run the risk of it causing your pipes to rupture.
• Corrosion
  Pipes are generally built to last decades, however over time pipes can become corroded and unfortunately cause unwanted leaks or bursts. Corrosion can be caused by a PH imbalance in your water supply. The chemicals in the water tend to wear down galvanized coated pipes causing the iron pipe to be exposed. Over time, rust will build up in your pipes and decrease the space in each pipe, either allowing only small amounts of water through in high pressure or causing water flow to stop completely.

If you experience a burst water pipe, it is important to know the exact cause in order to prevent the problem from occurring again. A professional, licensed plumber from Art Plumbing, Air Conditioning & Electric can inspect your plumbing, check your water pressure reading and make any necessary adjustments to your plumbing.

Damages Caused By Water Pipe Bursts

A single burst pipe can release 4-8 gallons of water per minute. This can be detrimental to your home or business if left unattended. One of the biggest concerns of fixing burst pipes is the plumber cost that comes along with it. Fixing a burst pipe can seem daunting, however, if left unattended, the burst pipe can cause catastrophic results.

The most obvious one would be damage to your floor and furniture. If you have laminated flooring, it will start to lift. Any material that absorbs water, such as wood, could start to rot if left to sit in the water for a long time. This is why it is important to attend to the burst pipe as soon as possible.

What To Do If Your Pipe Bursts

A burst pipe might not always be as dramatic as you might expect. Sometimes it manifests in leaks coming through the ceiling or walls, strange noises from the pipes or electrical disturbances. If you notice any of these there are a few easy steps you can follow to prevent more damage being done until one of our experienced plumbers get there.

1. Collect Gushing Water
   Once you have located where the burst is, try to save as much of it as possible in order to avoid more water damage. Collect water using buckets or anything you have lying around that can hold a large amount of water.
2. Turn Off The Main Switch
   By turning off the main water supply to your house, you will drastically reduce the amount of water gushing through.
3. Turn Off The Electrical Supply
   When there is a large amount of water gushing out in close proximity to switches, devices and electrical circuits, it can be very dangerous. It is important that you switch your electricity off, until the surrounding area is dry.
4. Turn On The Cold Faucets And Flush The Toilets
   To prevent more water gushing through the burst pipe, turn on the cold faucets and flush the toilets in order to deplete as much water coming through the main system as possible.

How To Prevent Your Pipe From Bursting Again

It is important for you to contact a licensed plumber to check for rust, corrosion, leaks and worn out pipes on a regular basis in order to avoid having a burst pipe again.

Pipes in our homes can often be forgotten about because we do not see them, however they will make themselves known if they are not maintained. In order to avoid experiencing the stress of a burst pipe contact Art Plumbing, Air Conditioning & Electric – we provide an all-inclusive range of plumbing services, catering for your every plumbing needs.