Imagine coming home from work and you happen to meet some of your properties covered in water due to burst pipes or a water leak. That alone can make one feel bad and worried. As much as we try to avoid leakage from the pipes, it is best to know what to do when situations like this happen. The type of temperature experienced can cause a pipe to be frozen or even burst. The first thing is to know the signs and symptoms of a busted water pipe and what to do when it occurs. All this will be explained in detail for better understanding.
Common Signs of Frozen or Busted Water Pipes
Frozen or busted pipes can give us signs before it leads to a catastrophe. One of the popular and most common signs you will notice is water’s inability to flow well when switched on. When this happens, try and check if there is any leak and if the water is still on. Other common symptoms to look out for include;
- When the pressure from the water is not regular
- When you notice a change in the smell and colour of the water
- This is usually not common, but at times you might hear some form of noise just right behind the walls
- Lastly, some form of puddles might be detected just under the sink
Having noticed any of the above signs, action must be taken with immediate effect to fix the problem. This action will be discussed below.
How to Fix Frozen or Busted Pipes
When the pipes in your home got broken, it’s best to call professional plumbers for help. This is often considered a good option most especially when we are unsure about the whole process. Although, as a homeowner, you can also carry out this process by following this procedure which will be laid out. It is advisable to carry out this process in a careful manner.
- Keep your faucet open: When you notice your pipes are frozen, remember to keep the faucet open as when water and steam come in contact, which is known as the thawing process, there will be a need for the pipes to be open to allow the discharge of water.
- Application of heat to the frozen part: This involves using an electronic heating pad to wrap around the pipe. When this is not insight, you can decide to use a cloth soaked in hot water to the pipe. One thing to note with this procedure is that it is a temporary process.
- Stop the flow: When you notice a pipe that burst, the first thing is to turn off the main source’s water supply. Before working on this, it is best to know where the main source of supply is. This should be rectified to know if you will need a tool to train the supply off. One other thing to look out for is to make sure you are not making yourself liable to shock while trying to turn off the water supply.
- Stay clear of appliances: As explained above, you should try as much as possible not to get yourself electrocuted. When floods happen, it is prone to result in shocks. In this case, try and avoid your feet from touching the water, most especially when you notice a life wire in the water. Take, for instance, avoid touching any electrical when in contact with water.
Conclusion
When you notice a frozen or busted pipe in your home, I believe this article will be a good source of reference to help you out with it while you call for the help of a professional. Also, put in mind safety procedures while carrying out the repairs.