Frozen Pipe Has Burst - What to Do Now?

Find out how to quickly deal with the burst frozen pipe.

A pipe burst freezing can happen to anyone and anywhere during the winter. Yes, even in Louisiana.

This is an expensive problem to fix, so if you find yourself in this situation, turn off the main water supply immediately and follow the next steps.

Acting quickly now will save you from further damage and costly repairs later.

What to Do Immediately After The Pipe Has Burst

1. Shut Off The Water Supply

The first thing you need to do is shut off the main water supply to your home to prevent further flooding.

It is usually placed near the front wall of your house. Locate it and shut it off.

When you turn it off, it will prevent more water from flooding your floors and damaging things in the house.

2. Call a Plumber

After you have turned the water off, call a plumber for frozen water pipe repair.

Frozen pipe burst repair should not be a DIY project.

You need expert help to determine the cause of the freeze, offer advice on how to prevent it in the future, and fix the pipe.

3. Call a Restoration Company

If your house has been damaged by water due to a broken pipe, call a restoration company immediately.

How to know if there’s damage?

Well, if the pipe has JUST leaked and you managed to shut off the valve in time, there probably isn’t that much damage to your flooring and drywall.

Your plumber may also help you evaluate this.

However, if the leaking water surface exceeds just a few square feet and has been standing there for some time before you arrived, you should give Superior Contract Cleaning a call to inspect the area.

Mold and mildew take just a few hours to start growing. When you act fast, they will not have a chance to start developing because we’ll already be drying.

4. Document The Damage as Proof

As you wait for the plumber and our restoration team to arrive at your home, take videos and images of the damage.

Use your phone or camera to take clear pictures of damaged areas, such as flooded floors, damaged walls, and wet personal items.

Remember to include damaged items, too.

The photos and videos will help a great deal when filing an insurance claim.

Things brings us to…

5. Call Your Insurance Company

Once you have the evidence of the damage, call your insurance company.

Sudden pipe bursts are typically covered by insurance; however, note that they only reimburse the water restoration costs. Not the pipe repair itself.

Tell them about the water damage and provide them with your documentation as proof of the damage.

Now, the negotiations may be intimidating to you—and rightfully so! Note that if you work with us, we’ll be the ones dealing with the insurance completely.

What to Do In Case a Frozen Pipe Hasn’t Burst Yet

When you discover that your pipe has frozen but hasn’t burst, it needs to be thawed to prevent a disaster from occurring.

Warm Up the Area: Use space heaters or open cabinets to circulate warm air around the pipes.
Keep Faucets Dripping: Allow faucets to drip to relieve pressure in the pipes. This will minimize the chances of a rupture. Even a small trickle helps.
Insulate Pipes: If you have uninsulated pipes and you have their access, wrap them with pipe insulation, towels, or even heat tape to keep them warm.
Open Cabinet Doors: Some plumbing runs through cabinets. If that’s your case, open their doors so that warm air circulates, preventing freezing.
Stay Alert: If there is any drop in water pressure or the pipes feel unusually cold, call a plumber to assess the situation before it escalates into a burst pipe.

Wrapping Up

It can be stressful to deal with a burst frozen pipe alone; this is why you could use additional assistance that knows what it’s doing from the second we walk in.

Call Superior Contract Cleaning for professional frozen pipe water damage repair services.

Stay warm and comfortable, and let us handle the mess.