How to Respond to a Burst Pipe or Water Leak

A plumbing emergency can be difficult to deal with, but if you know how to react, you can take the right steps in the right order to minimize the damage and get everything back to normal as soon as possible. Your first instinct may be to call your plumber immediately, but there is one step you should take first whenever you encounter a burst pipe or a plumbing leak.

 

 Shut Off the Water

• Locate the water shutoff valves in your home. The main valve is usually located at your water meter. For some homes, you may have a shutoff valve located where the water supply enters your home in your basement. You should operate this valve regularly to ensure that it functions without leaking so that in the case of an emergency you can turn the water off quickly and effectively.

Call Your Plumber

• When the water has been shut off, make the call to your plumbing company so they can be on their way as soon as possible. Do your best to describe the problem or locate the leak if possible, which will help your plumber know exactly where to look when they arrive. Burst pipes can be very stressful, but the additional information can help your plumber minimize water damage when they get to your home.

Contain the Damage

• After you have shut off the main water supply, look for other valves near the leak. You may also wish to consider opening taps in the area to reduce the water pressure in the pipes, provided that the nearest drains are ‘below’ the leak itself. Use towels or blankets to contain water on the floor, and place buckets or other containers underneath leaks as well.

Beacon Plumbing, Heating & Mechanical can help you with all your plumbing emergencies. You can contact us 24 hours a day at (206) 452-4363. Visit us online to learn more about our emergency plumbing services.

 

 

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