We are all conscious of our home’s systems. Most homeowners check their drains and electrical systems and perform some casual maintenance regularly. However, we are rarely adequately prepared for an emergency like an actual burst pipe. Such an emergency is not that uncommon, as many homes are built with older or improperly installed piping which has faced years of wear from running water. These pipes may not be able to handle the same pressures which will cause them to break relatively easily. As a homeowner, being conscious of potential emergencies like a burst pipe is essential to staying safe. There are some ways to be proactive enough to prevent such an emergency most of the time but not every emergency is escapable. You should also be aware of what steps to take in the event of a plumbing emergency and who to call to perform responsive yet affordable plumbing service.

Not every homeowner is aware of the locations of pipes running through their home. If you have recently moved into a new home, this is probably true for you. Knowing is half the battle, as they say, and with the potential for plumbing emergencies to spring up, you simply cannot afford to not know where pipes are. Contacting the previous owners is one way to find out, but often they will not even be able to tell you definitive answers, leaving you stranded. This also means the home is probably due for a pipe inspection, as you have no way of gauging the extent of wear and damages on your pipes. Once you know where the pipes are, you should locate the main valve to your home and any other valves which regulate your home’s internal water flow. Sometimes this is a valve located in a nearby well or a valve that facilitates water entry to your home from the city’s water main.

To answer our first question, of what to do when you have such an emergency – simply shut off the valve immediately. While this may seem a bit obvious, the chances are the average homeowner has little idea of where these valves are located, which makes this step a bit impossible. If you are living in an apartment or other form of a shared building, then you might have to call your landlord or property owner in the event of such an emergency. However, there is one more step! Shutting off the valves does not mean there will be no more water flow!!

This may seem a little counterintuitive, but think of it this way – what flows in, must flow back outright? If you have any closed faucets, spigots or dispensers of water, you must open them to release any remaining water in the system or else you will have water flowing back out of your burst pipe which would put a real damper on your efforts. At this point, you are probably safe enough to call your local trusted plumber and have a professional pipe repair done.

However, there is still a big problem! What if this happens when you’re not home? Well, two things:

• The first is to make sure that everyone living in your home knows what steps to take in the event of a pipe burst. Keep your family safe by making sure they are as informed as you are so that they can be your line of defense if you’re away when emergencies happen.
• The second is regular pipe inspections. Regulations do not stay the same! If your home was built in the ’70s and you can’t remember the last time you’ve had a pipe inspection, your home is definitely due one! You may have pipes made of inadequate materials to hand the continuous load they are burdened with. In fact, your pipes might just be plain old! Old and decayed pipes have a huge chance of bursting. Have a professional take a look at least once a year or so, and you can have peace of mind then you probably will not have to deal with coming home to a plumbing emergency of any kind – Peace of mind is good, right?

It is best to have a preferred plumber’s number saved into your phone so you know exactly who to call in case of an emergency. Your trusted local plumber should be one with a great reputation and unparalleled service. The best plumber for the job is Beyond Wow in Austin, TX. Our affordable, responsive and effective service is here for you whenever you need it!