Burst water pipes can cause a lot of damage to your home, which can be incredibly expensive to put right. If a pipe bursts, you need to react quickly, to minimize the damage, and get the problem dealt with quickly. Here’s what you need to do.
Shut off the water
If a pipe is burst, you need to turn off the water at the mains, by turning off the main stopcock. This stops the water from flowing into the house, by stopping more coming into the pipes. If the flow of water continues, drain the cold water by flushing the toilet several times and running the cold taps until the water stops. If any eclectics are affected, turn off the electric at the mains immediately.
Contact your insurer
If you have water damaged carpeting or other damage, contact your insurer as soon as possible. Your insurer may be able to help you find an authorized tradesperson to help you, as well as paying for repairs, parts, and labors. Check your policy to see what is covered.
Contact a plumbing professional
Once you have managed to stop the flow of water, you need to contact a reputable professional plumber to look at the damage and start making repairs. Plumbing repairs are not a DIY job.
If water has reached your power sockets, you should call an electrician too. Don’t use any appliances that have been in contact with the water.
If you will claim on your home insurance for the damage, make sure you contact your insurance before you call a plumber or an electrician. Many insurers will offer a home emergency service, so will call a plumber for you.
Document the damage
Find out exactly what you need to do to make a claim with your insurer. Some insurers ask you to photograph any damage and keep receipts for any items you have to replace. Your insurer will tell you to go ahead with repairs, which you should also keep receipts for, or will arrange for a loss adjuster to come and look at the damage that has been done in person. The loss adjuster will then tell your insurer what the extent of the damage so you can get on settling your claim. All you need is to connect with a public adjuster right away. You can check this website to read more details about it.
Putting things right
Getting your home back to normal after the damage of a burst pipe can take a long time.
Cleaning will be needed. The areas that have been affected can take four to eight weeks to dry out completely and could take even longer in more extreme cases. You can speed up the drying process by giving your walls, floors, and furniture enough space for air to properly circulate.
Any furniture or fittings that have been damaged will need to be stripped out, and any damaged plaster will need to be removed.
You might have to wait for some time before your house has dried out enough to allow you to start making cosmetic repairs. The walls must be fully dry before you can re-plaster and redecorate.
