Got a burst water pipe? What to do next…

Got A burst water pipe? Almost everyone who lives in a home with toilets, showers and taps is going to have to deal with a burst water pipe at some stage of their life. So what to you do if this type of plumbing disaster happens to you? Below I will explain the things you need to know and do so you'll be prepared and handle it like a pro.

Who does this usually happen to? Notice I said people who live in a home and not just the person who owns the house. Thats right, you could be staying at your parents home for the weekend, you could be lodging at an Air BnB for the weekend or you could just be home alone one night. Everyone will deal with this plumbing disaster at some time or another.

How do I know if I have a burst water pipe? Several signs to look for when you suspect you a burst water pipe.

• You could see water building up in a pool in your garden - you may even see a stream of water running across your concrete path way
• Water spurting out of a wall or wetness around walls that seems to be getting worse
• Hissing or loud spraying sounds in and around areas within your home where plumbing is installed
• A high water bill - extremely high water bills are often a sign you have a hidden leak

So what can you do? Here are some practical and essential tips of things you can actually do once you have determined you have a burst water pipe.

If you have a burst outside your home

• Turn off the water supply at the water meter - this will shut off the flow of water and stop the leak, it will also turn the water off to the whole house so toilets and showers will not work
• Keep pets and children away from the effected area - hot water bursts especially can be harmful to pets and children
• Contact your local plumber as soon as you can
• You may turn the water back on briefly and only if it is safe to do so, so you can shower and use toilets then turn it back off again
• Keep water off during the night should you need to wait overnight to get help

If you have a burst inside your home

• Turn off the water supply at the water meter - this will shut off the flow of water and stop the water flowing into your house, it will also turn the water off to the whole house so toilets and showers will not work. Do this as quickly as you can
• Do not turn the water back on for any reason
• Contact your local emergency plumber and stress you have an emergency and need immediate assistance
• Reduce damage to your home by using a mop and bucket and any old towels you have to clean up excess water
• Contact your insurance company ASAP and inform them what has happened and get a claim lodged

Tips for tennants

• Follow the steps above but contact your agent to get an emergency plumber for you
• If your agent is uncontactable or is refusing to help you do have the right to organise a plumber yourself and seek reimbursement once the burst pipe has been fixed. (Check with local laws about the exact procedure and amounts you are able to claim)
• Do your best to limit the damage to the landlords property, this will make the rectification works easier and less time consuming and will enable you to get back to normal quicker

A note on insurance - most insurance companies will pay for and damage resulting as a cause of the burst water pipe. They will not usually cover the pipe repair itself. If you have a hidden water leak, your insurance company may cover the cost of investigation water leak detection works and the damage caused by the leak, again they do not usually cover the pipe repair.

Follow these simple instructions and you will be able to deal with a burst water pipe at home or at work easily and with very little stress. Handle burst water pipes like a pro