When you’re a property owner, disasters and accidents are something that you can expect. After all, as time goes by, the fixtures in your home or building can eventually deteriorate and cause problems for your property. Your plumbing is no exception to this and as such, basement water damage experts say that it’s best you learn what are the steps you should take if your property ever suffers from a burst pipe.

Here are the four things you can do if a pipe bursts in your property.

1. Turn Off the Water Main – If a pipe bursts in your home or building, water can spew everywhere, even if the pipes are located behind the walls. Therefore, if you want to minimize the damage as much as possible, water damage pros say that you need to turn off your water main immediately. Usually, you can find the water shut-off valve in your basement, crawlspace or areas close to the water heater. If it isn’t there, you can find it under a metal lid on your property close to the street. If you don’t want to take the risk of the water reaching any electrical sockets, meanwhile, you can also take precautions and turn off the electricity as well.

2. Drain the Faucets – Once you’ve turned off your water supply, the next step you should take is to drain your faucets. To do this, start by opening and draining the cold taps first. You might also need to flush the toilet multiple times to thoroughly do this. By doing so, you can reduce the chance of leftover water freezing or building pent-up pressure within your pipes. Once you’ve done that, you can then shut off the water boiler and heating system and release the water from your hot taps.

3. Start Cleaning – Now that you’ve shut off the water main and drained the faucets, you can now start mopping up the watery mess the burst pipe has caused. That way, you can prevent mold and mildew from forming. If you want, you can also disinfect the affected area with the aid of mold restoration and prevention experts. If there are any items ruined by the water such as gadgets, chargers, carpets and rugs, it’s best that you get rid of them as well as they are no longer usable.

4. Document the Damage and File a Claim – Finally, make it a point to document the damage to your pipes through detailed notes and photos. If you desire, you can also call in a professional plumber to give it a thorough examination and provide you with an estimate as well. Afterwards, file a claim with your insurance company so you can fund the needed repairs or recoup the costs of the restoration project if you had to pay out of pocket in the meantime. Don’t forget to give them the documentation you and your plumber made to help the claims process run smoothly.

Need someone who can help you restore your home after significant water damage? Look no further than Special Touch Restoration, the leading experts to turn to when it comes to biohazard cleanup and water damage restoration services. Give us a call at (256) 330-4822 or fill out our contact form to get in touch with us today!