When a pipe bursts in your home, immediate action is necessary to avoid excessive damage as the deluge of water comes pouring out. After turning off the main water valve, you may wonder if there is anything you can do until help can arrive. If so, below are a couple of things you can do immediately after a pipe bursts in your house.

1.  Drain Out All of the Water Remaining in Your Pipes

The first thing you should do after a pipe has burst in your house and you have already turned off the main water valve is to drain out all of the water that remains in the pipes. Even if there is no new water flowing into the pipes, the water that is in there is still under pressure. Since water flows toward the path of least resistance, it will journey to the opening in the busted pipe. The water will continue to flow as long as it remains in any lines inside of your house.

To keep this from happening, turn off your water heater, and switch off the water valve for the exit lines. Once this is done, turn on the cold water spigots fully for each faucet in your house. Then, with the cold water spigots fully on, do the same with the hot water ones. Keep the spigots on to allow for full drainage of the pipes.

2.  Start Cleaning Up the Water as Soon as Possible

Once you have stopped the excessive flow of water, the next thing you can do while you wait for the plumber is to start cleaning. The longer you allow the water to stand, the more damage it will do. It could also encourage the growth of mold and mildew if moisture is allowed to remain for too long.

Soak up as much of the standing water as possible with any towels, sheets, blankets, or other absorbent cloths you can find. These can always be washed afterward. Next, point fans toward the area to try to accelerate the drying process. Just make sure that you position them away from any water.

After getting rid of the water in the lines and cleaning up as much of the mess as possible, the only thing you can do is wait for a professional to arrive. If you have not already done so, contact a business that offers emergency plumbing services to explain your situation. This way you can have the problem fixed as quickly as possible.

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