What to Do if a Pipe Bursts

The colder weather is here and if for some reason a pipe decides to burst or a DIY plumbing project goes bad, you could come home to a pool of water in your home. When an unexpected emergency like this happens, it’s important for you not to panic and have the knowledge of what to do next.

There is a list of things you can do to prevent further water damage to your home:

• First, you need to know if you are getting your water supply from a well or from a town/city. The easiest way to tell is if you are getting a bill in the mail your are more then likely on town/city water. If you are on a well, there will be a tank in your basement which is where the water supply from the well comes into your home. some well systems very and could be located in other areas of your home, so please do your homework and figure out what kind of system you have.
• Second, every house will have a main water shut off. If you have town/city water there will be a water meter located in the basement. You will see a valve below and above the meter. Either one is sufficient to shut the entire house off. I recommend shutting both of them off. Now, in a worst case scenario there have been times where water is leaking below the bottom valve and this can only be shut off by a professional. Please do not call a plumber because he will tell you exactly what I’m about to tell you. There is a shut off valve outside beside the road. In this case you will need to call the town/city water district and dial the emergency ext. They will then send a professional out to shut off the water supply. After this you will be ready to call a plumber.

If you have a well there will also be a shut off at the tank (Well-X-trol). You can also turn the power to it off. In your electrical panel there will be a 20 AMP breaker that should be labeled well pump that you can switch to off. If you do this it will take a little longer for the leak to stop because there will still be pressure in the tank.

• Third, be careful there are no electrical outlets nearby. If there is, I recommend turning off the power in your electrical panel. If you don’t know which one to turn off then you can turn off the main breaker which will shut off your entire house.
• Fourth, use a bucket or a pan to collect water that is dripping. Try and mop water off floors to help prevent further damage.
• Fifth, call Warm Waters or your local plumber to repair broken pipe. If its a large flood then you will have to also call your insurance company. Burst pipes are not always a DIY project. Warm Waters is experienced in all your plumbing needs and proudly serves Cumberland, York and Oxford county Maine. Please contact us at 207-939-3133