A burst pipe, left unchecked can cause serious damage to your home. That’s why it’s important to get in touch with a plumber as soon as you can if you’re experiencing an issue. Here’s what you need to know if you discover a burst pipe…
How to tell if you have a burst water pipe?
A burst pipe can affect your home in many ways and some of them you might not be able to see. If you can’t see the pipe but notice running water or wet areas in your home, the best thing that you can do is listen in the areas that you think there might be a leak.
Another thing to look out for is a dip in water pressure. If your water isn’t running the same as it used to, while there are many reasons for this, if it is consistent then it could a sign of a burst pipe or leak.
What to do if you find a leak?
It’s important to act fast in the event of an emergency burst pipe. The reason for this is to make sure that you minimise damage. The first thing to do is to shut of your water supply. This will mean that you don’t have to deal with a ‘never-ending’ source of water. It’s also important to turn off your central heating system as well as this makes use of your water source too.
The best way to do this is to collect water as quickly as you can with a bucket or bowl.
In the event that the leak is coming from the ceiling and the water is causing the roof is bulge slightly, it’s a good idea to allow the water flow down and use a broom to make a hole. While this might sound strange, it better to allow the water to flow down rather than allow it flow to other areas of the house that are hard to reach and cause future problems.
You’ll need a professional to help you ultimately fix the pipe. This the time that you need to call a plumber to come and take a look at the issue. It’s important that you do not do anything that could put you or your family at risk. This includes using any electrical devices in the area of the leak as this can create a dangerous situation. If you are in doubt at all about whether you can safely do this, turn off all electricity in your home.
After your plumber has fixed your leak, there is still more that you can do to make sure that your home is affected as little as possible by the leak. While adding more heat to a room or area that is wet might seem like a good idea, it’s actually better to simply open up your windows and doors.
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