Surviving The Nightmare Of Burst Pipes In The Middle Of The Night
One of the biggest problems you can face with your plumbing system is having a pipe burst at an inopportune time. You might be busy with dinner or sound asleep when your pipe bursts. If it happens to you, you are going to be caught off guard by what has happened. To be better prepared for burst pipes during the middle of the night, keep reading:
Plan for Burst Pipes Before They Happen
A burst pipe is one of those common emergencies that no one wants to think about, but everyone dreads when it occurs. Everyone knows what to do: shut the water off, wait an hour for the water in the pipes to subside, and then call a plumber. Sometimes, you still have to wait, and it can take time for the issue to be repaired.
Most burst pipes happen in the winter, but it can happen any time of year, and when it does, it's a nightmare. Therefore, you want to be prepared for issues with a burst pipe and ready for repairs. First, make sure you know where the main water shutoff is, and where other shutoff valves are located throughout your home. Second, make sure you have an emergency kit for these situations. Finally, have an emergency plumbing service number available to call for help.
Shutoff Water Lines
When a burst water pipe happens in the middle of the night, you want to be able to deal with the problem quickly. If the pipe is inside a room, the first thing you want to do is shut off the water.
Turn off the water at the mainline. This is the water that comes from outside into your home. There are also the lines in your home that are in pairs: one hot, one cold. These sometimes have their own shutoff valves. Usually, these are marked with red for hot and blue for cold, but sometimes you can't tell them apart. Turn the hot water lines off first, then turn off the cold. This usually isn't all that hard to do. Find the shutoff valve on the pipe, and then turn it to closed.
Removing the Water from Lines
Next, remove the water to prevent the pipes from freezing again. If the pipe is inside, such as under a sink, just run the water tap. If the pipe is located somewhere inside a wall, you'll probably need a plumber, but you can turn the water off at the shutoff valve and turn on the faucet if it is a small leak.
You can just leave the water off overnight. However, if there is a lot of water, it might take a while for the pipe to drain. In this case, you might also have problems with standing water that you need to deal with.
Preparing beforehand can prevent your pipes from bursting in the middle of the night, but sometimes it still happens. Contact a 24-hour emergency plumbing service if you have a problem with burst pipes in the middle of the night.