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What to do for a burst pipe while waiting for your plumber

Have you ever experienced a burst pipe?

The mess, the danger, and the shock can seriously rattle you.

But stay calm: our Melbourne plumbers can deal with issues like these for you with the highest sense of urgency.

In the meantime, however, there are some steps you can take in order to minimise the danger and damage caused.

Only perform these steps if it is safe to do so, and if in doubt, do not proceed.

Burst Pipes Plumber Melbourne

What happens if a water pipe bursts?

When a water pipe bursts in your home or commercial space, you should immediately call an emergency plumber in Melbourne to diagnose the issue, fix it, and adjust the pipes so that the eruption doesn’t reoccur.

You should also immediately turn off the appliance that the pipe is connected to, such as your dishwasher or washing machine.

A burst pipe can still occur if you’re not using an appliance because of the water flow in the pipes from the previous time you used the appliance or because of a malfunction.

While you’re waiting for your burst pipes plumber to arrive, the following five steps should be followed – if it is safe to do so. If you or anyone around you is in immediate danger, do not hesitate and call Triple Zero (000).

1. Turn off your water main

The first step is to turn off your main water supply. The water main is normally located in your front yard or back yard.

It could be in your home if you use a water tank, in the basement, or next to your switchboard.

If you happen to be reading this blog post and have NOT suffered a burst pipe, we strongly recommend you take five minutes to locate your water main in your property so that when the unexpected occurs, you know the first step to take!

How do you turn off the water when a pipe bursts?

Your main water supply should be coupled with a regular outside tap fixture that doesn’t require a wrench to turn it. Turning this clockwise should turn it off.

2. Drain your cold taps

Next, turn on your cold taps to drain any water sitting in the pipes between your water main and your faucets.

You should also flush your toilet for the same reason and turn off other water appliances that are switched on that you haven’t turned off already.

3. Turn off other utilities

You need to turn off your electricity – and gas if your property uses gas to heat your water.

Even if you use gas and not electricity to heat water, you should turn off electricity too in case the water from your burst pipe comes into contact with an electrical cable or socket.

4. Drain the hot taps

Now you can drain your “hot” taps that won’t contain heated water anymore.

5. Clean up the mess

Your burst water pipe may have made some internal, visible mess, which now requires cleaning up. While you can’t properly clean and sanitise the area just yet, you can take steps to remove as much water as possible using towels.

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What causes pipes to burst?

There are several reasons why your water pipes may burst. Watermaster Plumbing in Hampton has outlined the primary few so you can diagnose the problem yourself!

Water turns to ice

The most common reason globally is that the water in pipes freezes. This is obviously more common in colder countries but can happen in some parts of Australia too.

Pipe water is well insulated, therefore the outside temperature doesn’t necessarily have to reach zero degrees for the water in pipes to freeze.

Ice takes up more volume than water causing the pipes to expand, crack under pressure, and eventually burst.

Insufficient pipes

If you live in an older home or a home with inadequate pipe installation, then pipes can easily slip loose, crack, and degrade over time.

If you live in an older home, or have never had your pipes inspected, we encourage you to consider organising a plumber in Sandringham to assess the current condition of your pipes and provide recommendations to reline or replace them.

Blockage

Are you often too lazy to scrape your leftovers in the bin so just dissolve them in your basin as it goes down the drain? It might seem like a small misdemeanour, but over time, it can certainly build up.

Over time, your pipes can build up with solids, creating blockages and making it harder for water to flow.

If you’ve noticed slow-draining sinks in your home, particularly in the kitchen or bathroom, our plumbing maintenance services can inspect your drains and clear them, reducing the risk of a burst pipe happening later down the track.

Is a burst pipe an emergency?

It certainly is, so call Watermaster Plumbing now without delay

Your plumbing system is prone to burst pipes, blocked pipes, clogged toilets, leaks, and malfunctioning water appliances.

That’s why it’s helpful to save the number of a plumber who can help you with both commercial and domestic plumbing, especially when you need it fast.

We also offer a range of speciality services, including dental plumbing, gas plumbing, and roofing installation.

Save our number now: 1300 156 650 or request a quote online and we’ll get back to you shortly.

2022-03-21T04:00:16+00:00 March 21st, 2022|Blog|