Of all the plumbing issues a home can experience, a burst pipe is one of the absolute worst. Any plumbing issue is something you’ll want to get fixed, but a burst pipe is an emergency that requires immediate attention. The main water supply lines in a home are usually 1/2-inch pipes, which typically have a flow rate of around 50 gallons per minute. If one of these pipes were to burst when no one was home, you’d end up with several thousand gallons of water flooding your house in just an hour.
This type of catastrophic flood leads to extensive water damage and will require you do to a huge amount of renovating and restoration. The fact that a burst pipe can cause so much damage is why it’s important that you know what to do if you ever have a pipe that bursts and also what steps you can take to avoid issues that could cause a pipe to burst.
What to Do If a Pipe in Your Home Bursts
If a pipe bursts when you’re home, you’ll probably know fairly quickly since burst pipes tend to make a lot of noise. A burst pipe will always cause some water damage, but you can mitigate the amount of damage by acting quickly and shutting off the water to your home. All you need to do to shut off your water is close the valve on your main water line. Some water will continue to drain out of the pipe for a time, but you won’t have to deal with thousands of gallons flooding your house if you act quickly.
If you don’t know where your water shut-off valve is or can’t get the valve to close, you should contact your municipal water department’s emergency number to report the issue. The water department will then quickly send someone out to your house and close the shut-off valve to your home located out in the street. If the valve seems stuck and won’t shut off, you shouldn’t try to apply too much pressure to it. If you do, you could end up breaking your main water line and causing an even bigger issue.
Once you’ve shut your water off or contacted the water department, you then need to contact an emergency plumbing service so you can get the pipe repaired. This is obviously something that needs to be done as soon as possible since you won’t be able to use your plumbing until the pipe has been repaired.
How to Know Where Your Water Shut-Off Valve Is
The location of your water shut-off valve can vary depending on where you live and what type of foundation your home has. If your home has a basement or crawl space, the valve is usually in this part of the house just where the main water line enters through the foundation. Many homes in California instead have a slab-on-grade foundation. In this case, the shut-off valve is usually in the garage or located within an underground compartment outside the house just next to the foundation. In almost every case, the shut-off valve is located just next to your water meter.
If you’re unsure of where your shut-off valve is and can’t locate it by looking around your house, it’s a good idea to contact a plumbing company to have it located. That way you can make sure you’re prepared in case you ever have to deal with a burst pipe or a major leak. It’s also important that everyone in your household knows where the valve is and how to close it.
Most main water shut-offs are either a ball valve or a gate valve. You can tell which type of valve your home has just by whether it has a straight handle or a wheel. A ball valve has a straight handle that you need to turn clockwise until it’s at a 90-degree angle perpendicular to the water line. A gate valve has a wheel that looks just like that on an outdoor hose bib, and you need to turn this wheel as far clockwise as it will go to shut the water off.
What Can Cause a Pipe to Burst?
The most common reason a pipe bursts is due to it freezing. As the water in the pipe turns into ice, it expands and can exert enough force on the pipe that it ruptures. While frozen pipes aren’t something you usually need to worry about in San Jose, pipes can burst or break due to various other issues as well.
One issue that can sometimes affect an older home is that the pipes end up getting weakened over time due to rust and corrosion. Eventually, a pipe can get so weak that the water pressure causes it to crack and burst. Similarly, the joints and elbows that connect different pieces of pipe can also get weakened or come loose and lead to a major flood. This is why it’s a good idea to have your pipes inspected regularly if your home is older and have some or all of your home re-piped if your water lines are in poor condition.
In places with hard water, mineral deposits can also create a risk of pipes bursting. When the deposits slowly build up within pipes, it restricts the water flow. When the flow is restricted, it then leads to the water pressure inside the pipe increasing. In some cases, the pressure can get so high that it causes the pipe to rupture or leads to a joint suddenly coming loose.
This issue is why it’s a good idea to install a water conditioner or water softener if your home has hard water since it will prevent mineral deposits from forming inside your pipes. It’s also important to install a water pressure regulating valve if your home doesn’t have one so that you don’t have to worry about your water pressure being too high.
Hydraulic shock is another issue that affects some homes and can lead to pipes breaking or developing leaks. Often referred to as a water hammer, hydraulic shock occurs when water flowing through a pipe suddenly has to stop as a result of a faucet or other fixture getting shut off. If the water pressure is too high or the pipe isn’t properly secured, the shock can cause the pipe to shudder and bang against a floor joist or wall stud. Over time, this can lead to the pipe weakening to the point that it can suddenly burst.
In extreme cases, the shock can cause the pipe to move with so much force that it just instantly breaks. It’s quite easy to tell if your home has water hammer issues since you’ll hear your pipes making a knocking noise when you shut certain plumbing fixtures off. If you do hear this sound, it’s important to hire a plumber so that they can eliminate the water hammer issue and protect your pipes from damage.
Ribbs Plumbing Services has been serving the San Jose area since 1997, and we specialize in the full range of plumbing, drain and sewer services. Whether you’re dealing with a leak, a burst pipe, a clogged sewer line or any other issue, you can trust our team of experts for help. To schedule a plumbing inspection or any repair or installation service, contact us today.
