Plumbing emergencies like burst pipes are a fact of life which often strike without warning and usually at the worst possible time. Depending on the location of the pipe, this can either be a small inconvenience or a major damage to your home. A burst pipe in a crawlspace may simply cause a slight inconvenience since the water can probably drain out somewhere without causing damage. However, a water pipe which breaks on the second floor of a home may cause significant damage as the water travels down walls and across the floors. It is important to know what to do in the event you discover a burst pipe in your home. After many years of experience as a plumber in Atlanta, GA I can tell you that this basic knowledge could prove invaluable to you if you are ever faced with this situation.

It should go without saying, the first thing you should do is to turn off the water to that pipe. Many homes are equipped with individual shutoff valves for different water supplies throughout the home. It is a good idea to familiarize yourself with these water shutoffs in order to know where they are in the event of an emergency. There should also be a main water shut off to the entire house where the main water pipe comes into the home. This may be a basement location or a crawlspace.

After the water has been shut off, you must then work to limit the damage. A shop vac can usually be used in the event of a small amount of water. Be certain it is a wet and dry vacuum. You may also be able to create a damn with towels to help keep water from spreading across hard floors.

Once these steps are completed you can then assess the damage. For major leaks which have traveled through a large portion of the home, a water restoration company is almost always needed. They will have the resources to be able to dry carpet, drywall, and hard floors. If the area is small but has soaked an area of carpet you may need to call a carpet cleaner. Many carpet cleaners can handle small water damage issues such as this by treating the area with disinfectants and thoroughly drying it with dehumidifiers and fans