What should I do if a pipe bursts?

It has been a heck of a day. As you get ready to put your feet up and binge-watch Queen’s Gambit on Netflix. You’re so relaxed you believe you start to hear the distant sounds of a tropical waterfall. But wait…it’s the dead of winter. You spring up from your chair only to realize the tropical waterfall is a burst pipe. @#$! So, what now?!

Breath. Just breath. Then follow our instructions below.

1. Shut off your water! You should know where your main water shut off valve is in your home so you can be prepared!
2. Try blocking the escaping water with a thick cloth or towel.
3. Make sure your area is safe with no electrical hazards (you may need to shut off the electricity to ensure safety).
4. Once the water has stopped and the area is safe, call your insurance company or go online and start a claim.
5. Make sure you take pictures and document the damage immediately.
6. If safe to do so, start removing the water & salvaging any items you can.
7. Start the drying process. You may have to rent fans/vacuums etc. to start the clean-up as you do not want things to start moulding. The faster you get rid of the water, the better your chances.
8. If something cannot be salvaged, document it and discard it.
9. Keep any receipts for clean up costs.

Using the right precautions such as regular maintenance, making sure unheated parts of your house are kept closed from draughts, insulating water tanks/pipes in unheated areas like garages, and having someone check on your home if you are away are ways to help mitigate the risk of a burst pipe. It can certainly ruin your day, but it can be helpful to know where to start and how to prevent it. Hopefully, these tips were helpful, and you will never ever have to use them!

Our Insurely Guide’s are always around to answer your questions because let’s be honest, insurance is about as sexy as sweatpants during a pandemic. So we try to make it light and easy for you to understand. Schedule a call with us so we can answer all your questions.