What To Do When A Pipe Bursts

If you're one of the lucky ones and have never experienced a burst pipe, then count your blessings! Pipe bursting can cause a lot of water damage, so it's important to know what to do if it happens. Here are some tips on how to deal with a burst pipe.

Steps To Take Immediately After a Water Pipe Bursts

Pipe bursting is a common occurrence, as roughly fifty million homeowners experience a burst pipe every year. One of the significant issues that burst pipes bring is that a 1/8 inch crack can easily lead to over 250 gallons of water flooding your home daily if left untreated. However, with each flood situation being different, each requires a unique solution.

Considering the collateral water damage that a burst pipe has to offer, it's crucial to take action once a piping problem occurs. Here's a step-by-step guide for halting damage from a burst pipe:

Turn Off Your Main Water Supply 

This is the first and most crucial step in avoiding further water damage to your home. Shutting down your main water supply stops all water throughout the home and makes it easier to repair the burst pipe. In some cases, you may have to turn off your main power switch if the leak is happening near an electrical source.

Turn Off Valves

If the burst pipe routes from a hot water tank, close off the hot water valve to avoid water loss and possible injury.

If The Pipe Is Frozen

If the pipe happens to be frozen, don't let it thaw.

Once The Water Is Shut Down

Call a professional immediately once you shut off the water. This avoids further damage to your piping and property.

Take Inventory

Take inventory of the damaged property from the burst pipe. Once this is accumulated, contact your insurance provider.

Signs You May Be At Risk of A Pipe Bursting

There are various causes of pipes bursting, but there are a few very common problems that lead to that kind of plumbing emergency. Most instances of pipes bursting do not occur suddenly without warning. So, monitor your home’s plumbing lines throughout the year, and especially keep an eye out for the most frequent risk conditions. Why do pipes burst?

Water Freezing in Pipes Can Cause Them To Burst. 

Water freezes at 32 degrees Fahrenheit. When frozen water is in a pipe, it causes the pipe to contract, and the pipe can burst from the water pressure building in it. Even indoor plumbing lines may not be protected well enough from the risk of this situation. 

Unburied Outdoor Pipes in Freezing Temperatures Without Heat Tape Are at Risk.

Or, if indoor pipes run along a poorly insulated exterior wall, they are vulnerable to freezing and bursting. But, if external sections of pipes are wrapped and internal lengths run through a warm wall or basement space with effective insulation, they’re likely not at risk of freezing.

If Your Pipe Is Already Frozen, You Need To Act Quickly. 

One way to detect a frozen pipe is to turn on the faucet and see if the water is running. If no water comes out of the faucet, first check other faucets. Then, inspect for a leak or burst pipe along the water lines from the faucets to the main water pipe coming into your home.

Pipes Exposed To Extreme Heat Are Also at Risk of Bursting. 

Severe summer temperatures outdoors or in high-heat utility areas with heavy use of water can cause weak pipes to burst. Routinely inspect, maintain, and reinforce water lines.

Clogs in Plumbing Lines Can Cause Them To Burst.

 A clog blocks the flow of water and its release from the pipe. This can quickly lead to a buildup of excessive pressure. When the pressure becomes too high, the pipe can burst. 

Corrosion in or on Pipes Can Cause Them To Burst. 

Pipes can become corroded due to rust, excessive calcium in the water, or oxidation. Over time, corrosion weakens the integrity of the pipe walls and can cause them to burst.

Movement of a Pipe Can Lead To It Bursting. 

When temperatures around pipes change from cold to hot, the contracting and thawing lines may shift a little. Or, a pipe may become displaced a bit from being bumped during other pipe repairs, or shaken by extreme water pressure from large volumes of water running through it. If the shifting increases the pressure or jars a fitting loose, a breach can occur.

How To Avoid Burst Pipes in Your Home

A pipe burst can cause property damage, and wastewater contamination, and leave you with a shocking water bill. So, it pays to pay attention to your plumbing system throughout the year. Even in plunging winter temperatures, you can take steps to keep your plumbing pipes from freezing and bursting. Here are some easy steps you can take to prevent pipe bursts:

  • Seal air leaks that allow cold air to enter your home where plumbing lines are located.
  • Keep interior pipes warm by controlling the air temperature where the pipes are located.
  • Leave cabinet doors open under sinks on exterior walls to let warm air flow to pipes.
  • Keep faucets running a little to keep the pipes from freezing during low temperatures.
  • Keep exposed exterior plumbing lines warm in winter by wrapping them with heat tape.
  • Disconnect your garden hose from the outside faucet to drain water from the hose bib and prevent it from freezing and breaking.
  • Have a Utah Flood Cleanup expert or other licensed plumber inspect your water pipes.

Water Pipe Burst Facts

Since a burst pipe isn't a rare situation for homeowners, there are a few facts for consideration regarding such issues. Such burst pipe facts are:

  • Almost thirty-seven percent of all frozen burst pipes take place in the home's basement.
  • Frozen pipes are known to be a risk for homeowners in regards to property damage once the temperature drops.
  • Pipe insulation normally costs fifty cents per foot at a hardware store. However, a burst pipe without insulation can cost at least five thousand dollars for repair.
  • A thirty-two-degree temperature is a freezing point for water. For safety reasons, your home should stay above this temperature.

Why Call Utah Flood Cleanup to Handle Water Damage from a Bursted Pipe in Home?

Provided the information above, a burst pipe brings a lot of trauma to a household. However, Utah Flood Cleanup is here to handle any water, flood, smoke, or fire situations that may have found their way to your home. Such services Utah Flood Cleanup offers are:

  • Inspection & Water Damage Assessment - Inspecting the burst pipe, assessing the water damage from the burst pipe,
  • Water Removal & Extraction - Removing the excess water caused by the burst pipe.
  • Drying & Dehumidification - Drying and dehumidifying the area affected by the burst pipe.
  • Cleaning & Sanitizing - Cleaning the damage and sanitizing the area caused by the burst pipe.
  • Restoration - Restoring the water-damaged property.

If a Pipe Bursts in Your Home, Call Utah Flood Cleanup!

We’re your local experts in water damage repair and restoration. We quickly repair and restore your home to its condition prior to flooding. We provide Utah’s most efficient damage repair and restoration, so you can go back to enjoying your home again. We also provide expert mold abatement, often necessary after flooding in homes.

For pipe burst, interior flooding, leak repairs, or damage restoration, call us at Utah Flood Cleanup at (801) 416-2666 or contact us here on our website to schedule.

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We are disaster cleanup experts located in the state of Utah. We perform cleanup for water damage, floods, mold, fire & more. Give us a call at 801-416-2666 if you're in need of assistance.
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I was corrected and they are still in business. Talked to Daryl and he’s a great guy. Would definitely send work his way if I ever need it.
Robert Mixon
Robert Mixon
22:36 07 Mar 23
We had a leak in our roof while we were out of town. Daryl was so helpful and responded quickly so we were able to get our wood floor dried out to avoid damage to the floor. He was very professional and knew exactly what needed to be done.
Gary Hatch
Gary Hatch
22:52 07 Jun 22
I contact Daryl about wanting to have a mold inspection done in my crawl space. He was incredibly nice and immediately booked at time with me. When he arrived at the house, he carefully did his work, showed me the results of the tests. Thankfully there was no mold. But, even better, he took the time to show me and explain a few areas of concern for the future. Really incredible service. I wish everyone was so professional. I couldn't recommend someone more highly. 5 star!
rhayesparton
rhayesparton
23:22 13 May 22
Daryl with Utah Flood Clean Up, came to inspect a previous roof leak that had left some moisture in our walls. He was very honest about his findings and detailed with the information for removing it! I am a General Contractor and I won’t use anyone else!
Garry Naccarato
Garry Naccarato
14:11 23 Apr 22
My experience with this company is that they are honest and great to work with. Very refreshing to have someone you can trust.
Trevor Heaton
Trevor Heaton
19:44 06 May 20
Called for some detailed information about mold/removal. Daryl was busy, but called back just a few minutes later and spent time answering ALL my questions. He was very knowledgable and patient. Thank you Daryl.
Diane G
Diane G
18:00 17 Apr 20
Sadly, I've had to use Utah Flood Cleanup 4 times in the last year! I really appreciate how quickly they responded to each casualty. They were there right away! Daryl, the owner, gave me a price that was half of the other quote I got, and his men are professionals... not kids who don't have a clue. Plus, he included more "fixes" in his quote for less money. He is very knowledgeable and I felt very confident in his recommendations. He also worked directly with our insurance adjuster so that I didn't have to! I highly recommend this company.
Ashton Carrington
Ashton Carrington
16:09 16 Apr 20
I called Utah Flood Cleanup when I had a leak in the kitchen that drained down into the basement. Daryl came out shortly after speaking to me on the phone! He was friendly, professional and very knowledgeable. He quickly and thoroughly assessed the situation, explaining everything he did as he went along. I was very impressed with how thorough he was in his examination of the damage. He let me know up front what I was looking at and I felt he was very honest and reasonable. I've had other companies out who seem to know very little and just want to start ripping everything out at once! Daryl explained and showed me why he recommended what he did and I felt very comfortable and confident in his recommendations. I highly recommend this company!! You won't be sorry.
Jo Carrington
Jo Carrington
03:09 08 Jun 19
Call these guys for the best knowledge and serve for water damage or mold.
Daryl Olsen
Daryl Olsen
18:58 26 Jan 19
We wanted our house checked for mold due to a moderately high mold count in the air sample. They were very thorough and found only one small spot in the bathroom that needed attention. They advised on our options for dealing with it and did not propose expensive and unnecessary repairs.
Heather Steed
Heather Steed
02:09 16 Aug 18
We absolutely love Utah Flood Cleanup, they come in and take all the problems over. The headache of insurance companies, they pack your items up, the clean up and restoration, and they even move all the items back in. All of there staff are professional and very knowledgeable, they layout a reasonable budget and fight against the insurance to get your house to the best finished state. All of there sub contractors are fast and experts in their fields, this company only uses professional tradesman. We really appreciate all that the Utah Flood Cleanup guys have done for us.
Kit Cc
Kit Cc
03:27 15 Aug 16
Josh and Sam came to inspect the mold we found. They were on time, considerate and knowledgeable about our situation. They presented our options and recommendations to treat the issue. I will recommend Utah Disaster to my friends and family.
Connie Pinnell
Connie Pinnell
18:16 08 Jun 16
Jaxon came and assessed water damage in our basement. They were very helpful and went out of their way to make the experience as painless as possible. Very responsive when questions came up and they were never pushy, which I appreciate.
Aimee Hollingsworth
Aimee Hollingsworth
19:48 01 Jun 16
Jaxon was great, he answered his phone at 6:30 am and was out in an hour and got my basement cleaned up
neil norton
neil norton
14:55 31 May 16
Within the last year we had a major flood in the basement, and just today had another water issue that flooded a smaller portion of the basement. I called The Flood Company immediately and they were on-site within an hour or so. I'm extremely pleased with The Flood Co. The professionalism and expertise demonstrate by Jackson and Sam put my mind at ease, knowing we would be taken care of well. I would recommend The Flood Company to anyone in need of these services. They get a five star rating from us!
William Hansen
William Hansen
03:03 26 May 16
My main water line broke and our crawl space was flooding. I called my insurance company and they recommended these guys. Sam and Jesus showed up and got things taken care of. They stopped the water line and put fans to dry the area. The insurance process was super smooth I'm glad I called them!
Karla Maquin
Karla Maquin
04:11 06 May 16
Utah Flood Cleanup is amazing! Josh and Jesus stopped by after their shift and were kind enough to give us a free inspection of our flood problem. Our little 4 year old thought he'd make a sauna in the bathroom. He flipped the shower on and walked away. We never heard the water running and came upstairs to put my daughter to bed. Sure enough, the shower was pointed into the bathroom and flooded the whole thing. Josh and Jesus came out got the whole place inspected, pulled out themal meters and moisture meters and confirmed there was water damage (and old mold growth from previous spills). They grabbed their tools and began demolishing the floor themselves, right then and there so we could get fans on it to prevent future mold growth. I hope I never have another flood but if I do, I'm definitely calling them again! They're the best!!~~~
Jessica Means
Jessica Means
01:49 22 Apr 16
These guys are great to work with and really go above and beyond to serve their customers.
Zack Adams
Zack Adams
17:36 16 Dec 15
I called in the morning and they came that afternoon. Chris and Jesus came. They were professional, polite, knowledgeable and they quickly got the place all cleaned up and prepped for the repair. Then they recommended some handymen to do the repair. I hired Hank and he was great too. Did the whole job in one day.
Alan Green
Alan Green
20:37 16 Oct 15
You showed up to our house based upon little information. When you got here you went right to work looking to see what was going on. With being a family of 7, it can be a scramble being out of a bathroom and no shower. You were excellent and so kind on letting us know what our options are and what you can do to resolve the problem in our basement bathroom. With being in our new home, not even making a second mortgage payment yet, it is hard to discover there is mold and a water leak through out the basement bathroom and laundry room. I really appreciate the time you took out of your day to come to our house. My brother in law referred us to you, and it was the best referral, so thank you very much.
Ashley Metz
Ashley Metz
22:39 30 Sep 15

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What Our Clients are Saying

Customer Testimonials

I was corrected and they are still in business. Talked to Daryl and he’s a great guy. Would definitely send work his way if I ever need it.
Robert Mixon
Robert Mixon
22:36 07 Mar 23
We had a leak in our roof while we were out of town. Daryl was so helpful and responded quickly so we were able to get our wood floor dried out to avoid damage to the floor. He was very professional and knew exactly what needed to be done.
Gary Hatch
Gary Hatch
22:52 07 Jun 22
I contact Daryl about wanting to have a mold inspection done in my crawl space. He was incredibly nice and immediately booked at time with me. When he arrived at the house, he carefully did his work, showed me the results of the tests. Thankfully there was no mold. But, even better, he took the time to show me and explain a few areas of concern for the future. Really incredible service. I wish everyone was so professional. I couldn't recommend someone more highly. 5 star!
rhayesparton
rhayesparton
23:22 13 May 22
Daryl with Utah Flood Clean Up, came to inspect a previous roof leak that had left some moisture in our walls. He was very honest about his findings and detailed with the information for removing it! I am a General Contractor and I won’t use anyone else!
Garry Naccarato
Garry Naccarato
14:11 23 Apr 22
My experience with this company is that they are honest and great to work with. Very refreshing to have someone you can trust.
Trevor Heaton
Trevor Heaton
19:44 06 May 20
Called for some detailed information about mold/removal. Daryl was busy, but called back just a few minutes later and spent time answering ALL my questions. He was very knowledgable and patient. Thank you Daryl.
Diane G
Diane G
18:00 17 Apr 20
Sadly, I've had to use Utah Flood Cleanup 4 times in the last year! I really appreciate how quickly they responded to each casualty. They were there right away! Daryl, the owner, gave me a price that was half of the other quote I got, and his men are professionals... not kids who don't have a clue. Plus, he included more "fixes" in his quote for less money. He is very knowledgeable and I felt very confident in his recommendations. He also worked directly with our insurance adjuster so that I didn't have to! I highly recommend this company.
Ashton Carrington
Ashton Carrington
16:09 16 Apr 20
I called Utah Flood Cleanup when I had a leak in the kitchen that drained down into the basement. Daryl came out shortly after speaking to me on the phone! He was friendly, professional and very knowledgeable. He quickly and thoroughly assessed the situation, explaining everything he did as he went along. I was very impressed with how thorough he was in his examination of the damage. He let me know up front what I was looking at and I felt he was very honest and reasonable. I've had other companies out who seem to know very little and just want to start ripping everything out at once! Daryl explained and showed me why he recommended what he did and I felt very comfortable and confident in his recommendations. I highly recommend this company!! You won't be sorry.
Jo Carrington
Jo Carrington
03:09 08 Jun 19
Call these guys for the best knowledge and serve for water damage or mold.
Daryl Olsen
Daryl Olsen
18:58 26 Jan 19
We wanted our house checked for mold due to a moderately high mold count in the air sample. They were very thorough and found only one small spot in the bathroom that needed attention. They advised on our options for dealing with it and did not propose expensive and unnecessary repairs.
Heather Steed
Heather Steed
02:09 16 Aug 18
We absolutely love Utah Flood Cleanup, they come in and take all the problems over. The headache of insurance companies, they pack your items up, the clean up and restoration, and they even move all the items back in. All of there staff are professional and very knowledgeable, they layout a reasonable budget and fight against the insurance to get your house to the best finished state. All of there sub contractors are fast and experts in their fields, this company only uses professional tradesman. We really appreciate all that the Utah Flood Cleanup guys have done for us.
Kit Cc
Kit Cc
03:27 15 Aug 16
Josh and Sam came to inspect the mold we found. They were on time, considerate and knowledgeable about our situation. They presented our options and recommendations to treat the issue. I will recommend Utah Disaster to my friends and family.
Connie Pinnell
Connie Pinnell
18:16 08 Jun 16
Jaxon came and assessed water damage in our basement. They were very helpful and went out of their way to make the experience as painless as possible. Very responsive when questions came up and they were never pushy, which I appreciate.
Aimee Hollingsworth
Aimee Hollingsworth
19:48 01 Jun 16
Jaxon was great, he answered his phone at 6:30 am and was out in an hour and got my basement cleaned up
neil norton
neil norton
14:55 31 May 16
Within the last year we had a major flood in the basement, and just today had another water issue that flooded a smaller portion of the basement. I called The Flood Company immediately and they were on-site within an hour or so. I'm extremely pleased with The Flood Co. The professionalism and expertise demonstrate by Jackson and Sam put my mind at ease, knowing we would be taken care of well. I would recommend The Flood Company to anyone in need of these services. They get a five star rating from us!
William Hansen
William Hansen
03:03 26 May 16
My main water line broke and our crawl space was flooding. I called my insurance company and they recommended these guys. Sam and Jesus showed up and got things taken care of. They stopped the water line and put fans to dry the area. The insurance process was super smooth I'm glad I called them!
Karla Maquin
Karla Maquin
04:11 06 May 16
Utah Flood Cleanup is amazing! Josh and Jesus stopped by after their shift and were kind enough to give us a free inspection of our flood problem. Our little 4 year old thought he'd make a sauna in the bathroom. He flipped the shower on and walked away. We never heard the water running and came upstairs to put my daughter to bed. Sure enough, the shower was pointed into the bathroom and flooded the whole thing. Josh and Jesus came out got the whole place inspected, pulled out themal meters and moisture meters and confirmed there was water damage (and old mold growth from previous spills). They grabbed their tools and began demolishing the floor themselves, right then and there so we could get fans on it to prevent future mold growth. I hope I never have another flood but if I do, I'm definitely calling them again! They're the best!!~~~
Jessica Means
Jessica Means
01:49 22 Apr 16
These guys are great to work with and really go above and beyond to serve their customers.
Zack Adams
Zack Adams
17:36 16 Dec 15
I called in the morning and they came that afternoon. Chris and Jesus came. They were professional, polite, knowledgeable and they quickly got the place all cleaned up and prepped for the repair. Then they recommended some handymen to do the repair. I hired Hank and he was great too. Did the whole job in one day.
Alan Green
Alan Green
20:37 16 Oct 15
You showed up to our house based upon little information. When you got here you went right to work looking to see what was going on. With being a family of 7, it can be a scramble being out of a bathroom and no shower. You were excellent and so kind on letting us know what our options are and what you can do to resolve the problem in our basement bathroom. With being in our new home, not even making a second mortgage payment yet, it is hard to discover there is mold and a water leak through out the basement bathroom and laundry room. I really appreciate the time you took out of your day to come to our house. My brother in law referred us to you, and it was the best referral, so thank you very much.
Ashley Metz
Ashley Metz
22:39 30 Sep 15

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