burst pipe locating cleaning

Burst Pipe Response: Locating, Documenting, Cleaning

In previous sections of this multi-part blog series, we’ve gone over everything you need to know about a burst pipe in your plumbing system. Burst pipes can be very serious plumbing issues that warrant emergency plumbing services in some cases, so knowing both how to spot them and how to respond if you do identify one is important as a homeowner.

At Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric, we’re happy to offer a variety of emergency plumbing services to all our clients, including those dealing with a burst pipe or any other concern that risks major flooding and water damage, plus a variety of separate concerns as-needed. In today’s final entry into our series, we’ll go over the final steps our plumbers will help guide you through if you’ve sustained a significant pipe bursting issue, including finding the culprit and remedying the damage so there’s no future risk.

Locate the Burst Pipe

In some cases, such as if it’s the pipe under your sink or a visible pipe in your basement, the culprit pipe will not be hard to find. In most situations, though, the burst issue takes place in a pipe that’s behind walls or concealed somehow.

In these situations, once we’ve assisted you with shutting off water and other power sources and stopping the immediate risks of water damage, we’ll locate the pipe that’s causing the issue. Some of the pieces of evidence we’ll use include bulges in the ceiling, pools of water in certain areas, water under the sink, or certain others we’ll be happy to inform you of.

Assessing and Documenting Damage

Next it’s time to figure out how much damaged was really caused, and this area can vary widely. Some burst pipes that are found and remedied quickly will lead to only small cracks, the sort that can be repaired using commercial tape or a chemical bonding agent, plus perhaps some minor water damage cleanup.

In other cases, the damage will be much more severe. It could include huge cracks and gaps, or even the need to completely replace pipes in some cases. Regardless, we’ll document the damage and give you and idea of what’s needed for repair.

Cleaning and Remediation

Along with repair for the actual pipe in question, we’ll assist with other areas of cleanup and remediation. One major area here is potential water damage, which may require wet-dry vacs or related solutions. Another is the potential formation of mold or mildew, which can take place if water damage and other conditions are severe enough – heavy-duty fans and other ventilation methods might be needed here, possibly alongside professional mold remediation if mold has already formed.

For more on how to deal with a burst pipe in your plumbing system, or to learn about any of our plumbing repair, furnace repair, air conditioner service or other solutions, speak to the staff at Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric today.