What to Do If a Water Pipe Bursts in Your Home

Having a pipe burst in your home can be an overwhelming event and for many, the “next steps” to take are unknown. We have compiled an ordered list to help you in the event a pipe ruptures in your home and what to do about it.

1. Turn off the water: Complete this step as soon as you can to stop the flow of water and reduce any further damage that could be caused. Immediately after you turn off the water’s main valve turn on your faucets to help relieve some of the pressure in your water lines. Removing that pressure will help reduce further damage to the pipes. Drain your cold taps first, followed by the hot taps, you can also flush all the toilets to drain the pipes. 

2. Find the break: If you haven’t already sourced the break, take a walk through your home to locate the source of the water. There may be some tell tale signs of a burst pipe like bulging ceilings, dripping, or water marks to indicate where the pipe burst. 

3. Clean up the mess: Once you’ve finished documenting (make sure to take photos), you can start cleaning up the water. It is best to start cleaning and drying as soon as you are able to reduce the change for mold and any long term damage. 

• The best place to start cleaning up is with the items you are most concerned about being ruined, remove those items from the water and place them in a safe area where they can dry out. 
• Toss out any items beyond repair – Remember to document.
• Disinfect and dry to prevent mold growth.

4. Contact a plumber and/or restoration company: Contacting a plumber and/or restoration company will be key in having the pipe/ damage repaired and a restoration company will be able to assist with cleanup, drying the area and tear out. 

5. Insurance claim: If there is significant damage to the home and your contents, you will want to contact your insurance broker as soon as possible. Your broker will give you some instructions on next steps for filing a claim and will be able to assist in determining if a claim is worth submitting or not.

A pipe bursting can cause a lot of damage to your home and taking preventative measures can help reduce the likelihood of a pipe bursting. Such steps can include, adding insulation to keep rooms warmer in older homes, look into pipe sleeves for those pipes on exterior walls, check bathroom pipes for pinholes/ leaks on a regular basis. In the event a loss is to happen though, always stay calm and remember we are here for you!