Burst pipes can have a significant negative impact on your property. If you have a burst pipe in your home, it is important to take steps to remedy the problem as soon as possible. This will help prevent further damage and costly repairs. In some cases, it may be beneficial for you to hire a professional plumber.Â
According to emergency plumber Sydney owner Justin Rizk, a burst pipe is usually caused by cold weather. Normally, when water freezes it can damage both the piping and nearby fixtures. In some cases, this may lead to a total breakdown of the plumbing system if not dealt with quickly.
If you have a burst pipe that is letting water flow onto your floors, here are ways you can limit the damage until it can be fully repaired by a professional plumber.
1) Burst pipes will soak all surfaces in the surrounding area with water. Floors, walls and ceilings will be saturated with water as well as household items such as furniture and clothing that may be stored or kept near where your burst pipe happened. Mould may begin developing shortly after a pipe bursts if it is not properly dried and ventilated afterwards. While some materials can be salvaged others such as drywall and carpeting typically need to be entirely replaced due to becoming unsalvageable. In addition, loss of personal belongings such as jewellery, keepsakes, and even photos should be taken into consideration.
2) If you notice water pooling along your foundation or damp spots appearing on the floor, walls or ceiling it is possible that a burst pipe could be responsible. It may also appear as brownish stains in your grout between tiles or discolouration on wallpaper if your burst pipe has been leaking for an extended period. The best step to take if this happens is to contact a plumber immediately so they can determine if you have a burst pipe and how much damage has occurred. Depending on the extent of the damage it is usually recommended to let professionals repair any issues because homeowners are typically not well equipped to deal with flooding caused by broken pipes until further damage occurs including the potential for mould growth.
3) If you are experiencing difficulty with your plumbing system regularly, there is a strong possibility that it could be due to the pipes being old and corroded. If this is the case they may begin breaking down more frequently until they eventually burst altogether which can be dangerous if nobody notices that water is spraying everywhere for an extended amount of time. This will cause damp surfaces like floors, walls and ceilings as well as furniture items left out in the area of leakage along with ruined clothing or other household materials made from fibres such as carpeting and drywall. Excessive moisture may also lead to mould development if not taken care of quickly enough so regular maintenance of your plumbing is essential for preventing expensive repairs like these later on.
4) Burst pipes may cause water to pool on driveways as well as other surfaces outside of the building which can frequently be a tell-tale sign that your home is experiencing issues with its plumbing system. Flooding and dampness within your walls or ceiling may also serve as signs that you have burst pipe damage and it will require professional assessment and repair techniques to ensure that minimal additional damage occurs and mould growth is avoided. This type of severe damage requires immediate repairs for safety reasons so it is advised not to try working on fixing these problems yourself unless you are an experienced plumber yourself. You may still incur costs such as hiring a professional service if the initial estimate provided by them is too high though so keep this in mind when making your decision to hire or not.
5) If your plumbing system is old and incapable of withstanding the current demands on it you may experience taps, toilets, showers and other water fixtures running constantly without having their normal capacity turned on. A plumber will be able to tell if this is the case by looking at the age of your existing pipes. Another potential cause could be calcium build-up within older pipes so regular maintenance via flushing out hard water deposits might help prevent burst pipe issues if left unchecked for too long. It can also help reduce overall costs when a simple flush does not solve the problem entirely and a professional cleaning service is still scheduled for scheduled intervals to maintain functionality.
