The following are 5 tips on how to stop the water from leaking and fix the pipe.
1. Document the Situation
When a pipe burst, the first thing to do is to document the emergency so that you can claim insurance afterward. With your smartphone, take a few photos or make a video of the burst pipe and flooded situation. If you saw anything that is damaged by the flooding water, keep it somewhere so that you can use it as proof when the insurance company contacts you.
2. Locate the Burst Pipe
After documenting, you must determine the location of the burst pipe. If you know where is the burst pipe, you can tie a piece of rag cloth over it to reduce the leaking. To find out where is the burst pipe, you can look for signs like swollen plaster on the ceilings. Once you have located the burst pipe, you can put a bucket below to catch the water.
3. Clean Up the Water
Now, you need to remove every item in the wet area. You can use a mop to mop up the puddle if it is just a small puddle. If the water is a few inches above your feet, you can use a submersible pump to pump out the water. After the water is removed, you can open the windows to speed up the drying process. Until everything is dried, you should not turn on your A/C as it will encourage bacterial growth.
4. Seek Professional Help
The next step is to get a plumber to come over to your home to assess the burst pipe situation. You should do some research to find an affordable and qualified plumber in your neighborhood to handle the situation. You can start by asking your friends for some recommendations. Not all personal recommendations are good; you have to verify the qualification of the professional yourself. For example, you can ask the plumber to show you proof of license and references. You should also ask about an estimate quote and payment schedule.
5. Take Preventative Steps
After the pipe is fixed, you must take preventative steps to prevent the same problem from happening in the future. You can install insulation in your room to increase the temperature and reduce the likelihood of the water in the pipe dipping below frozen temperature. You can also bandage pipes that are prone to freezing with heat tape. If your pipe is in the cabinet, it is best to remove the doors so that the pipe can breathe.