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The main task of the plumbing system in your household is to bring clean water in and carry used water out via the sewer line. When a pipe bursts, it can cause all sorts of troubles, but the first thing that happens is that the necessary water flow is hindered. So, it is extremely important that whenever you notice that something might be wrong with the plumbing, you react as soon as possible in order to prevent any further damage.
Pay attention to all your drains and make sure that there aren’t any fetid odors coming from them. Check the walls for any cracks or leaks. Even if the situation seems like it can wait, chances are that the broken pipe is leaking somewhere else, if not around your home then into your neighbor’s. This is why you should act like it’s an emergency and get it fixed as soon as possible. Here are some tips on how to do that.
Be Well-Acquainted with your Home’s Plumbing System
For starters, it is very important for you to know your plumbing system well enough. In other words, you need to know exactly where the isolation valves are so that you can close them in case of an emergency. You need to shut down the water flow at a particular section in order to be able to work on it without flooding your home.
You should also know how to turn off the water heater. You don’t want to end up burning yourself by accident.
Try Unclogging the Drain
The burst pipe in question could be the very sewer line. This can cause a lot of problems, but it is important to first eliminate other possibilities. It’s often difficult to differentiate a blocked drain from a broken sewage pipe. This is why you should first check whether gunk, such as hair, grease, or paper, is the main cause. This can often be solved with a plunger, but if you are having trouble, it would be wise to look for drain cleaning experts who can deal with the problem with ease.
If this doesn’t solve the issue, then you probably have a broken sewage line that needs to be fixed ASAP. Furthermore, if you keep treating the issue as if it’s merely a clogged drain by yourself, the damaged pipe will only get worse.
Assess the Problem and Act Quickly
Before you get down to business, you should properly assess the issue at hand. Not every plumbing issue is easy to take care of. Sometimes the pipe can just be leaky and you can simply tighten it or use sealing tape to make it better. However, there are situations when a whole section of the pipe is going to have to be replaced which is a more complicated task.
It is always important to act quickly. If you’ve got an obvious leak, you can use a bucket to gather the water. However, if the leak is too big, it might be necessary to cut off the water supply.
Fix the Pipe
In order to fix a broken pipe, you need to cut it open, remove the damaged part, and then replace it. What you need in order to get this done is a tubing cutter, a smaller piece of a copper pipe, and a pair of straight couplings. You need to make incisions with a tool such as a reciprocating saw on both sides of the leak. Then comes the replacement copper pipe. Cut it so that it’s just a bit shorter than the distance between the cuts you have previously made.
Put the two straight couplings on each side of the pipe and then insert the replacement you have just prepared. Then, you’re going to need to solder the pipe, with the help of proper soldering flux.
Here is a video with some quick fixes for a leaking supply line:
Final Words
Being acquainted with the issue of broken pipes means also knowing how and when this issue tends to happen. For example, whenever the temperature is low, the pipes may freeze which makes them extremely susceptible to damage.
You can prevent this by implementing proper insulation. Also, you should stay on the safe side and shut off the water supply when you know you won’t be at home for more than a few days. And, finally, make sure that you properly maintain your home’s plumbing system on a regular basis.
Ayla Anderson is an avid reader and an enthusiastic blogger who writes articles on home improvement, business, Family and beauty. She is also an MBA student who spends much of her time giving advice to newly small businesses on how to grow their businesses. You can follow her on Twitter.