Everything you need to know about Burst Pipes

Burst pipes can be a nightmare, especially if left to their own devices. They can quickly do damage to electrical work as well as structural elements such as floors and ceilings if not fixed promptly.

A common misconception is that pipes only burst in winter when they become frozen. However, this is not always the case as pipes can burst at any time of year due to general wear and tear.

This article will indicate what you need to look for and what action to take once you have a burst pipe on your hands.

Burst Pipe Symptoms

When most people think of a burst pipe they think of water gushing out of a huge hole in the side of a pipe. Whilst this is indeed the case sometimes, often a burst pipe can be a lot subtler, causing damage without you necessarily realising until it’s too late.

Things to look out for:

• Water pressure issues or intermittent water supply to taps
• Water damages patches on your walls or ceilings
• Damp patches of flooring
• Bulges in walls

Once you realise you have a burst pipe you need to act fast.

What to Do When You Discover a Burst Pipe

The first action you must take is to turn the water off. This is usually controlled through a stopcock that is generally located under your kitchen sink, underneath your boiler or in some cases is located outside. You’ll need to switch off your central heating too.

Once everything is off, open up all of your taps to drain the system and then close them back up once there is no more water left to run off. At this point you need to call an emergency plumber whilst you mop up the water and make sure any electrics are safe.

We offer a rapid response service for burst pipes in and around North London, so if disaster does strike, call us on 020 3984 9531 and we’ll get out to you as soon as possible.

What to Do After a Burst Pipe Is Fixed

Once you have a plumber on-site, it’s time to ring your insurance company and start the process of totting up the damage to your property and your belongings. Make sure to take photos of everything and receipts for anything that needs replacing.

If your flood is particularly severe you will need to wait for your insurance company to send a loss adjuster out to you. They will begin the process of sorting out repairs and drying out your flooded space. In the meantime, move any possessions out of harm’s way.

Make sure to never throw anything away that you’ve had to replace without first documenting it and sending it through to your insurers.

Conclusion

Suffering a burst pipe can be catastrophic if not acted upon quickly. If you are inside your home and it happens to you, now you know what to do in order to limit the damage.

In this emergency situation, it is crucial to call for a plumber as soon as possible, particularly if you cannot locate the water supply to turn it off. We offer a rapid response burst pipe repair service for the North London area should the need ever arise.

If you have any questions about burst pipes or any other plumbing services, don’t be afraid to chat with a member of our team using the box in the bottom right-hand corner of our website.