There are a couple of common culprits that are usually responsible for burst pipes. These can include:
Water freezing inside the pipes
This is not so typical in Australia due to our milder climate. However, in countries where winter temperatures often fall well below freezing (like US and Canada) this is one of the most common causes of burst pipes.
When water freezes inside a pipe, an intense amount of pressure builds, leading to burst pipes. External pipes, as you would expect, are most susceptible to freezing and subsequently bursting.
Old and damaged pipes
Old pipes are simply damaged or disintegrating and need to be replaced or repaired. Any fault within your plumbing system can eventually lead to damaged or worn pipes, resulting in a slow-releasing leak (causing hidden structural damage, too!) or a burst pipe.
Whatever the reason is, you will need to stop the flow of water and fix the burst pipes as soon as possible.
The best and likely first solution you think of is to call an emergency plumber in Melbourne to quickly repair your pipes.
All too often, there is not much time to get your DIY fix during a pressing plumbing emergency like burst pipes, so don’t delay; call H2-Pro now.
However, there are some things you should know about burst pipes and what you can immediately do to help alleviate the potential damage or risk in your home.
Remember, never work beyond your skill-set and if you’re in too deep (both literally and figuratively!), call an emergency plumber who will solve your issue.
In a burst pipe emergency, there are three things you should do. Follow steps one to three below.
Step 1: turn off the water
The plumbing system in a home works a bit like the veins in our body. Their main function is to move water to all parts of a home, like the bathrooms, laundry, and kitchen. If a burst pipe is resulting in rapid water movement, you need to turn of the main water supply.
The quicker you can cut the water supply in your home, the less damage will be caused before a qualified plumber can get to you!
Do you know where your home’s main water supply is?
Your home’s water supply is usually located outside, near the water meter.
Not sure where it is? Identify it today!
We once had a customer who couldn’t turn their bath tap off, and she didn’t know where the main water supply was. Luckily, there was no damage, but gee – what a waste of water!
Step 2: turn off the electricity
Depending on the severity of the leak, you may want temporarily cut the electricity in your home. You may also like to turn off your home’s central heating system.
If you are worried about water leaking into power sockets in your home, call an emergency electrician.
Step 3: call an emergency plumber
We recommend stopping at step 3 and letting the pros take over. If you’ve successfully shut off your home’s water supply, the next best thing you can do is let your emergency plumber attend to the problem.
At any hour of the day or night, our team of plumbing experts are here to help! Call now.
Any time of the day or night, we’ll be there!
Burst pipes in Melbourne
If you think that trying to fix a burst pipe yourself is beyond your skill-set, guess what? You’re probably right! Leave it to the professionals and call an emergency plumber like H2-Pro.
H2-Pro offer 24/7 emergency plumbing services – including burst pipes in Melbourne – every day of the year! No plumbing job is too big or too small. If you’re facing the horror of burst pipes in your home, don’t hesitate to call us!
Now that you’ve reached the end of this blog post, we have a task for you: find out where your home’s main water valve is. Trust us, you’ll be thankful you did!
