I have a burst pipe. What should I do?

If you are unfortunate enough to suffer a frozen pipe which bursts, these simple measures can help keep subsequent water damage down to a minimum…

What to do if pipes are burst or frozen?

If the pipes become frozen the water supply will become reduced or it will not come out of the cold water taps when they are turned on. This is the time when pipes are most likely to burst. Immediate action should be taken to minimise any damage that may occur when the pipes thaw out and water flows out of the already split pipes. The points below can apply equally to an individual property, flat or entire block.

If a pipe freezes

Turn off the water supply at the main stopcock
Turn up the heating to a minimum of 20ºC and ensure any loft trap hatch is wide open. A fan heater could also be placed in the loft to push hot air around the loft – position it carefully and ensure it is checked properly

In freezing conditions

If the heating fails or makes loud water banging noises, then the heating pipes may be freezing. If so turn off the boiler and call a plumber straightaway.

If a pipe bursts

Turn off the water supply at the main stopcock. If the burst pipe is from a storage tank, the tank stop valve should be turned off
Turn on the cold tap in bathrooms and kitchens as this will drain the tanks as quickly as possible
Turn off the central heating system and any water heaters and remove or protect any items that will be affected by a burst pipe
If water starts to seep through the ceiling, collect it in a bucket. If the ceiling begins to bulge, pierce through the plaster with a wooden broom handle or wooden stick

Minimising the disruption

It is essential to dry out the building as quickly as possible and to ventilate all areas to prevent mould growth
Do not be in a hurry to repair, cover up or replace wet or damaged areas of your premises. Many litres of water will have been absorbed and this will need to be slowly evaporated before reconstruction can take place
Use de-humidifiers to dry out the premises (not heaters). Remember to close the windows when the de-humidifiers are in use
Store damaged items in a dry place. They may have a salvage value or be repairable and will need to be inspected.