How to Deal With a House Flood From a Burst Water Pipe
Posted on: 30 September 2018
There are many potential reasons why your home may get flooded. A burst pipe running behind walls, in the basement, under the floors or any other area within your home is one of the common culprits.
If your abode floods due to what you suspect is a burst pipe, acting fast and taking the right steps can make all the difference with regards to saving your home from serious water damage that will be costly to repair.
Before calling in an emergency plumber to fix the burst pipe, here's what to do to minimise the impact of the flooding.
Turn off the electricity
You probably already know that electrical hazards are bound to occur when water comes into contact with electricity. So, the first step to take is to turn off electricity supply to your home immediately you notice that your house is flooded. If the entire house is flooded, turn off the power supply at the main disconnect or breaker. If individual rooms or areas are affected, only turn off the power supply to those specific areas. Remember, your safety should always be a top priority.
Turn off the water supply
After eliminating electrical hazards by turning off the electricity, cut off the water supply to your home. To do this, you'll need to locate the main water shutoff valve to your house. If you don't know its location, you should probably check just outside your home. If specific rooms or areas are flooded, you should locate the water shutoff valves for those areas to turn off the water supply.
Rescue what you can and clean up
Once you've shut off the water supply to your abode, take your personal items such as carpeting and furniture outside for cleaning and drying. Move items that have not been ruined by water to a dry room or area. Remove as much water as you can from the flooded area. Use buckets to remove standing water, then a wet-dry vacuum to clean up the rest. For lighter jobs, you can use a simple mop.
Contact your emergency plumber
Once your home is clean and dry, call an emergency plumbing service and let them know the plumbing emergency you're facing. Provide as many accurate details as possible about your emergency so that your plumber can arrive at your place knowing what to expect.
Water damage caused by a burst pipe can wreak havoc in your home if left unchecked. So, consider hiring a water damage remediation specialist once your plumber has fixed the problem.
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