Causes of Burst Pipe and What To Do

Pipe burst is undoubtedly not an issue that happens often, but it can cause massive damage to your home or property in one instance.

Most homeowners are aware that this plumbing catastrophe can happen at any time, but not many know what to do when it happens. And when a pipe bursts somewhere in your home, you better do anything you can to prevent more damages from occurring.

The damages to your home can be extensive-from water damage to your floors, walls, and other precious possessions and furniture. And because of the damages that pipe burst can cause, emergency plumber should be called at once as they are the only one skilled enough to fix your burst pipe.

Causes of Pipe Burst

There are several different causes of pipe bursts, but for most homeowners, it goes down to three or four most common reasons why it happened. You should know that pipe bursting doesn’t happen overnight, so it’s crucial to check your plumbing regularly to spot issues that can lead to your pipes flooding your home.

Corrosion: Corrosion is one of the most common causes of a pipe burst. It happens because there is an imbalance in the water’s pH, so minerals are free to build up in pipes, leading to corrosion, leading to leaks, and bursts.

It doesn’t happen suddenly since corrosion is a pretty long process, but when it does, your pipes are due for replacing. This problem occurs more in homes that use well water because water from wells has a higher concentration of iron.

Movement: any unexpected movement of the pipes can cause them to burst. Repairs on other parts of your plumbing system can also lead to other pipes moving, and some of them may prove too weak to handle any shaking or tugging.

Furthermore, if your water pressure becomes too high suddenly, it can shake the pipes and cause a pipe burst.

Clogs: A clog in your pipe close to the drain is common plumbing issue, not an emergency plumbing issue, but down the line, clogs can prove to be fatal for your pipes. A clog deep in the pipe causes water pressure to build around it as it’s trying to pass further down the pipe.

The water pressure itself can be too much for your pipe to handle and result in a burst pipe.

Do You Have a Burst Pipe?

Any out-of-the-ordinary quantities of water in your home, meaning puddles and puddles of it, are a clear sign a pipe in your plumbing system gave up for good.

However, there could be other signs besides the evident wanna-be-indoor pool, and those are a bit trickier to find.

• Puddles: Small water drips are considered a leak, but a burst pipe will unleash much greater quantities of water. The puddle will usually appear in the place where the pipe burst, meaning if it were your bathroom sink pipe, you’d likely find water below it. If the puddle gets more prominent when you turn the water on-yup, it’s a pipe burst.

• Water Pressure Issues: The water supply pipes can also be prone to bursting, but they give a clear sign if this happens. If you have a leak or a hole in your water supply pipe, the water pressure in your home will be low.

• Wall Stains: If you notice wet stains on your walls, this is a clear sign of a plumbing issue. The stains will also appear on the ceiling if the pipe burst happens on the upper level of your home. Wall stain is the most obvious sign of a burst pipe.

• Discolored Water: Strange watercolor can point to many other plumbing issues, but it can also point to burst pipe. The reddish color indicates rust is present in pipes, while the brownish color can mean the concentration of manganese in your pipes is pretty high. Still, call a plumber near you to diagnose the problem ASAP and prevent further water damages to your home.

• High Water Bill: If your water bills simply make no sense considering how little water you actually use, you may have a leaky pipe or a burst pipe. This can add hundreds of dollars to your water bills.

• Metallic Odor: Odors can mean many things in the land of plumbing, but if your water has a distinctive metal odor combined with other symptoms on the list, you have a burst pipe.

• Strange Sounds in Walls: You’re hearing water dripping somewhere in your home, but all your faucets are fine, and it seems like it’s coming from inside your walls?

No, you are not crazy but more likely facing a plumbing issue. When you ensure that the sounds are coming from the walls, take no time to call for a plumber.

• Pipe noises: Metallic clangs and pipe noises are easy to notice simply because most homeowners don’t hear them often and when they do-they notice. This is a sign that the pipe is moving, which can lead to pipe bursts.

What To Do When a Pipe Bursts

Here are some very simple steps you should follow if you ever have a burst pipe in your home:

1. Turn Off Main Valve– turn off the main water supply. This way, you’ll stop ”feeding” new water to your home and prevent more damages.

2. Call a plumber– burst pipe is not a DIY plumbing project. Call a plumber to fix this issue for you, no matter the cost.

3. Clean the water-clean the water right away to preserve your floor, walls, and other possessions. Most importantly, you’ll prevent mold and mildew growth. Next, clean the area and dry it.
4. Drain faucets– remove the water left in the plumbing system by draining all your faucets. Next, turn off your water heater, start with cold, then move onto the hot water.

5. Open doors and windows- It’s important to air out rooms where you had a burst pipe. The pipe needs air circulation to dry both the pipe and the surrounding area.