Few home mishaps are as messy as water pipe burst. Even when the break is relatively small, it can still mean you’re in for a big clean-up. But knowing what to do, and in what order, can make the restoration a manageable task you can handle yourself.
First, you’ll need to stop the flow of water fast. Turn off the water supply to your home and try to determine where the break happened. Immediately after that, turn off the power to the area of the home where the water damage occurred. Disconnect any electronics in the area and move them to dry ground.
Next, assess the damage. If it is extensive, you may want to consider hiring a professional restoration company. If you’ve caught the break in time, it is possible to dry up the mess yourself by renting the proper equipment and save quite a bit of money.
After moving rugs and bulky furniture out of the way, try to remove any puddles remaining on the floor. Towels or a mop may be sufficient, or you may want to rent a heavy duty wet/dry vacuum to make quicker work of the task.
You’ll want to get as much air moving through your home as possible. Open windows during mild weather, and get some fans running. While this is a good start, it likely won’t be enough to fully dry out the problem area. Consider renting high velocity fans from an equipment rental company, and if carpet is involved, you can also rent a carpet turbo dryer. Don’t use heating fans or dryers, they will only encourage the growth of mold and bacteria.
Next, dehumidify the area with the best dehumidifier you can rent or borrow. It’s possible to rent dehumidifiers that remove up to 30 gallons of moisture out of your home per day. Continue dehumidifying until the unit no longer collects any water.
Sometime during this process, when the worst of the emergency is over, record the damage thoroughly for insurance purposes. Take photos or video of anything that became water damaged, corroded, or stained.
By working quickly, and knowing what kind of professional-grade equipment is readily available to you, it’s often possible to prevent a soggy mess from turning into a complete disaster.