Follow These Steps to Fix a Burst Pipe

A burst pipe can happen anytime. Pipes burst from the cold, from the pressure building up from clogs, or old corroded or rusted pipes simply give out. It is not always easy to know when a pipe has burst. If you are unaware that your pipes may have burst, a lot of damage can occur. If you do know a pipe has burst, here are a few steps you can take to minimize the damage before your plumber arrives.

Turn off Water 

As soon as you realize there is a broken pipe, the first step is to turn off the water. Shut the water off where the cracked pipe is with the water valve on the pipe. 

If there is a big break in the pipe, shut off the water at the main water supply as well. Depending on where the leak is, you may want to shut off the power supply to avoid shocks or fires.

Drain Pipes

Once the water supply has stopped, open the taps to drain out the remaining water from the pipes.

This will prevent the leaks from becoming worse. Drain both the hot and cold taps and flush the toilet until there is no more water.

Contact a Professional Plumber

While you are shutting off the water, contact a plumber to assess the issue and fix the problem. While there are a few things you can do to help stop excessive damage, you shouldn’t attempt to make any repairs yourself.

Don’t try to remove any pipes, as you may cause more damage than there already is. If this is happening in the middle of the night, call an emergency plumber like the ones at Summit Drain who will come right away.

Clean Up Excess Water

Don’t let the excess water sit or create a pool of water. It will seep into your floors or carpeting and cause a lot of damage. Not only will it ruin your floors and carpet but mould and mildew will start to grow.

As soon as you discover the leak, put down some towels or mop up the water and remove items from the area to avoid them getting water damage. If you can, open a window or door to help air flow or turn on a fan.

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Do Emergency Repairs 

If you can see where the pipe is broken, you can try to make a repair to keep the water that is still in the pipe from leaking. You may have had to turn your water back on if the plumber can’t get there right away.

Wrap rubber or plastic around the broken pipe and clamp it to hold it in place until the plumber arrives to make the repairs. Remember, this is not a permanent solution.

Contact the Pros

When time is of the essence, you can count on Summit Drain to arrive ready to fix your burst pipes. When you need a professional Ottawa plumber, look no further than Summit Drain. With over 10 years of expert experience, our team will be there to provide the right solution for your pipes.

FAQ

A main sewer line blockage can cause water to backup in random places. For instance, you run your washing machine and notice your sink overflowing – this can be a clear sign that you have a clogged drain line.

If you have ruled out a potential sewer drain clog, you can rinse your sewer drain by flushing it with water. When you flush your lines, try adding a bit of drain cleaner to the water. A great place to flush your sewer line is the toilet – a larger amount of water and drain cleaner can enter your system quickly and easily. Unfortunately, if you do this when you have a clog, it can cause backup and potential flooding – if this is the case, clear the clog first.

You should generally know if your sewer line is blocked with slow drainage. The purpose of the sewer line is to take all the water drainage away from your house via sinks, bathtubs or toilets – if you find that there is slower drainage in one drain then you can essentially clear that yourself using a drain snake or a plunger.

There is confusion regarding when you are responsible for sewer line repair. While some may believe that the homeowner is only responsible for repairing the part of the line that’s on their property, this is not the case. Sewer lines consist of multiple sections, the upper lateral, lower lateral and the main line. The city is only responsible for repairing the main sewer line.

If issues with the main sewer line cause damage to your lower lateral, which is most likely where the damage would generally first start – the city would repair this damage when they work on the main sewer line. Unfortunately, if there is backup and flooding on your property from the main sewer line, then the city would not be responsible. It is best to follow up with the city to see if they will repair any damage in these cases.

Unpleasant smells coming from your drains is indicative of sewer line issues and damage. You should always take these types of smells seriously as it could be toxic fumes slowly releasing from the sewer below into your home.

There are a number of ways to clear a slow drain using products found around the home:

Bent Wire – If you do not have a drain snake, you can try using a stiff wire – like one from a clothes hanger, leaving the hook to enter pipes and pull out any clogs. Try to make sure you don’t push debris further into the pipe.

Homemade Flush – Mixing baking soda and vinegar can dissolve any materials that are potentially clogging your drain pipes. This is a good and much safer alternative to store-bought chemical cleaners.

Toilet Plunger – Like plunging a toilet, you can try using this on your drains. Using a plunger on your drains can help get things moving by using suction. This should be enough to fix any mild blockages.

Aged drain pipes are at risk for corrosion which can lead to breaks. Summit Drain has both the technology and expertise to fix this if necessary.

Yes. Drain pipes are durable, but not meant to last forever. If you live in an older home in Ottawa, most likely the pipes are made from copper and can collapse in this day and age.

When it comes to a collapsed drain, call Summit Drain. We use trenchless technology to replace sewer pipes made from original materials without ruining your property.

Rock salt
Rock salt helps by removing moisture from the roots, which in turn kills them. Two lbs should do the trick, pour 1 down the toilet. Flush until gone. And repeat with the next. Then leave for 12 hours and don’t run any water.


Foaming root killers
Another effective way to treat roots in pipes is with foaming root killers. Pour powder into toilet and flush. It will foam upon contact with water. Not only does it help dissolve current roots, but also helps to protect against future ones.


Copper sulfate
Copper sulfate is another good option. Available at most hardware stores, pour roughly half a cup into toilet and flush until gone. Leave the home and take all pets and family members along. This is a toxic substance and banned in some places.


Should I replace old pipes?
There does come a time where it makes sense to replace your pipes. Over time they crack and corrode. It is recommended to begin routine inspections once your home reaches 50 years in age. For plumbing Services in and around the Ottawa area, nobody does it like Summit Drain.

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