Burst pipes are one plumbing issue that accounts for a significant portion of homeowners’ insurance claims and repair costs. Not only does the pipe itself need to be repaired or replaced correctly, but the mess left behind could cause serious damage to your home, your possessions, and your health if it isn’t cleaned up properly. A burst pipe on your property might seem to you like an uncontrollable occurrence, but there are steps you can take to minimize the damage and the inconvenience.

Shut Off the Water

In a moment of panic, you’re likely going to try to find the source of the water as it’s rushing into or through your property. Be sure to take a moment though and find the stop tap on your water main. This is usually located under the kitchen sink or where the main service pipe connects to your house. It may be best to locate this now before you run into a problem, so you know where it is should you face an emergency such as this. Once you’ve shut off the main water line, you’ll want to drain the pipes by running the cold water on all your faucets and flushing all your toilets. Shut off your hot water heater and do the same with the hot water in your faucets.

Find the Broken Pipe

Once you’ve shut off the water and drained the pipes, then you can locate the source of the problem. Take note of where the broken pipe is located. Not much time or effort is needed to repair and replace a single pipe that’s located somewhere such as the kitchen sink. However, if it’s a major water pipe that has burst, you have a serious problem on your hands as it holds more water and leads to additional connections. If this is the case, it’s best to call in a professional. While many homeowners are tempted to go for the “do-it-yourself” method, problems of this nature require an experienced touch. Otherwise you might find yourself facing costly emergency repairs later on down the road.

For peace of mind with your plumbing repairs in Bartlett, IL, contact Lifeline Plumbing, Heating & Cooling today.