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A leaking pipe can really ruin your day. A burst leaking pipe is even worse – if you get one of these, cancel your plans, because your life is about to be turned upside down.
You should always do your best to prevent leaks and bursts, since a leaking or burst pipe can seriously damage your home and possessions. But as we know all too well, if the most perfectly maintained homes can still have problems – that’s where our plumbers come in!
Escaped water also often leads to mould growth, which might make you sick. Water could start an electrical fire too, if it comes into contact with electrical wiring.
By all means, let us know as soon as you suspect you have a leaking pipe. Here’s are some of the signs to watch for:
A leaking pipe can become a burst pipe, so don’t ignore these signs or simply place a bucket to catch the drips and delay getting the help you really need.
Contact us! Plumbing professionals have a refined ability to detect leaks!
If you know where the leak is, turn off your home’s water supply and call us right away. If you can’t tell exactly where the leak is, we can help with that as well.
If you’re an ambitious do-it-yourselfer, you can try the below solutions for a leaking pipe, which should stem the flow until a plumber arrives:
These should be used only for smaller water leaks -- and only for a limited time.
This material is most effective when used on cast iron pipes, though most of these pipes are older and probably need to be replaced soon after being applied.
These can be used for joint leaks or leaks in the middle of pipes. They can be a bit tricky to put in place, though.
These wraps will harden around a pipe to seal off a leak. They can be used on different parts of the pipe and to seal different types of leaks.
These can be used on joint or pinhole repairs. Like pipe clamps, they provide a seal, but that seal will only last for a limited period.
None of these temporary fixes can substitute replacing the pipe. After attempting a temporary repair, we recommend consulting with one of our plumbers to determine when and what the next step should be.
If you suspect a water leak, the source might be very obvious. For example, if there’s a puddle on the laundry floor, look up, and you should spot the leaking pipe.
If the pipe is inside a wall or ceiling, though, you’ll need to do some detective work, as described in the list above.
If you find the leak while we’re traveling to your home, temporarily place a bucket under it and wrap the leaking area in rags, using duct tape to hold them in place.
Don’t tape the pipe directly since the tape won’t stay in place, and we would just have to remove it when we come.
We all know that a burst pipe can make a huge mess wherever in your home it might happen. If you’re unable to turn off the water supply immediately after the burst, there will be a flood in the area of the pipe. You might come home one day to your living room has turned into a swimming pool. That’s where we can come to the rescue!
If this happens, before you even call us, the first thing to do is shut off the water supply. The next is to grab every towel or other absorbent material you have and soak up as much water as possible. Then open windows and doors (unless it’s raining) and call us.
The goal is to prevent as much water damage as possible by drying out the house quickly.
Remember, the sooner you deal with any water damage, the less it will cost you over time, and the healthier your home environment will be.
Most pipe leakage is a sign of wear and tear on the pipe. While some of the repairs discussed above will stem the flow temporarily, eventually, the pipe should be replaced. You want to avoid future leaks or have the pipe burst.
Having damage caused by a burst pipe teaches a lesson you won’t quickly forget. There’s nothing like having uncontained water damaging your home to make you aware of your plumbing system and the routine care and maintenance it requires.
We understand how urgent a situation you’re facing when you have a burst or leaking pipe in your home.
Uncontained water can wreak havoc. So, the sooner the problem can be taken care of, the better off you’ll be.
Most plumbers recommend you have your plumbing inspected every so often. In fact while we’re at your home, you can ask us to look at the condition of your pipes, we’ll be able to give any unconcealed pipes a visual inspection, to let you know what has become worn and needs to be either repaired or replaced. This is something you shouldn’t put off!
So get in touch by calling us or filling in a form online, before your burst pipe becomes a major issue!
