Advice and Tips on Burst Pipe in Minneapolis

A burst pipe is a common household problem. One news report told of such an incident in one apartment in Minneapolis where a pipe in the basement burst while the tenants were sleeping. The burst pipe caused flooding in the basement, damaging appliances and soaking other personal items. Even big institutions and commercial establishments deal with burst pipes from time to time. Take for example the incident in the University of Minnesota just this year when a cooling system pipe burst and sent water flowing from one floor to another, creating an estimated $1 million worth of damages.

Although common, not everyone knows exactly why pipes burst. Perhaps if homeowners are more aware of what causes it, they can take preventive measures and avoid incurring losses due to burst pipes. The age of the pipes is one factor. Naturally, any object weakens with age and pipes certainly are no exception. No matter what type of pipes a building has, they will eventually get old and wear down. This is also means that aside from water pipes, other pipes like those connected to the sewerage system can also burst and that would need urgent sewer back up cleaning. Low temperatures also contribute to burst pipes because the cold expands pipe material and this makes the pipes weak and susceptible to bursting.

What to Do After a Burst Pipe Incident

After discovering that you have a burst pipe and it has caused flooding in your home, your first thought would probably be "I need to get this water out of here immediately". That's understandable since it's easy to get all panicked with the sight of the flood or water damage ceiling and the water just pouring into the room that all can you think about is how to drain the water. But water extraction should not be the primary concern. The only way you can start extracting the water, cleaning up and drying the area is if you stop the water from flowing in first.

So, the first action you must take is to stop the main water source. Then you can now attend to removing the water. After water removal, the flooded area should be properly dried and fully ventilated to lower the humidity in the room. Remove all soaked objects like furniture and carpets and immediately dry them outside or turn them over to a professional cleaner. Proper and timely drying of wet surfaces and objects would lessen the probability of mold formation. It is best if you can get all this done right away because the longer a surface or an object is exposed to water, the more chances of damage.

Tips to Avoid Pipe Bursts

During winter, it is important for homeowners to ensure that their water pipes do not freeze since pipe freeze eventually leads to the pipes bursting. To protect water pipes from extremely low temperatures, homeowners should make sure to that their pipes are well-insulated.

In addition, if you are going away on a winter vacation, do not just leave behind your house to endure the harsh weather without winterizing it. Do the same to your summer houses. Otherwise, the water pipes may burst while you're away and just imagine the scale of water damage that will do to your home.

If you live in an old house, check the condition of the water pipes. Needless to say, old pipes are more likely to burst so consider making pipe replacements.

Leo Nov is an editorial staff member of RestorationSOS. To learn more about clean sewage visit our website. Click here for more information on burst pipe minneapolis.

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