As the winter months approach in Chicago, many home and business owners may have to worry about the possibility of a pipe burst in their building. When pipes freeze due to lowering temperatures and improper insulation, they can burst and cause severe water damage and potential flooding that can permanently damage the structure of your home or any items within it. There are steps you can take to help prevent burst pipes in winter, but when you need to perform burst pipe cleanup there are a few steps you should keep in mind. 

The most important thing to remember is that in the event of a pipe burst, your best course of action will be to call in the services of a professional burst pipe cleanup company so you can make sure the job gets done properly and safely. A situation where you have to deal with a pipe burst can be a nightmare for any home or business owner. It can be financially and emotionally devastating when flooding caused by a burst pipe results in precious items being lost or permanent damage occurring to a building. That’s why it’s important to have a game plan for when the worst case scenario happens. By following this guide, you can have a better understanding on what to do in the event of a pipe burst and how to better manage burst pipe cleanup. And remember, more often than not, the best thing to do in these scenarios is to call in the help of a professional water damage restoration company so you know the repairs will get done safely and properly.

What Can Cause A Burst Pipe?

A burst pipe is simply the result of what happens when the structure of a pipe is compromised. Frozen pipes can often happen as the result of sudden lower temperatures, especially if the pipes are not kept properly warmed. Pipes that are located in cold dark areas of a building, such as pipes located in the basement or in cabinets, are especially susceptible to freezing. The same goes for pipes that are outside or exposed to open outside air in any way. Burst pipe cleanup comes in when the bursting of a pipe results in serious water damage to a person’s home or business. But there are ways to prevent burst pipes by making sure that at-risk pipes are properly ventilated, replacing pipes that are getting too old, and occasionally running water through pipes that are not regularly used. But in the event of a pipe burst, there are some guidelines in order to make sure the burst pipe cleanup process goes by a whole lot smoother.

How To Implement Burst Pipe Cleanup in Your Home or Business:

Even if you take all the precautions, there’s no guarantee that you can completely protect your business from the event of freezing pipes or any subsequent pipe bursts. That’s why it’s a good idea to have a game plan for when your pipes burst so you can better handle the situation and prevent the damage from becoming worse. In situations where burst pipe cleanup is needed, time is of the essence. The longer that water damage is allowed to sit inside a building, the greater chance for permanent structural damage. It is important to keep safety in mind as a top priority so no unnecessary risks are taken. You shouldn’t try to do any kind of repair work until you first make sure that it is safe to do so. That being said, there are some steps you can implement before officially beginning the burst pipe cleanup process.

1. Turn Off The Water: Before you can begin any kind of burst pipe cleanup, you must first turn off the water in your home. This will stop the continued flooding and allow you to begin the water damage restoration process without having to deal with continued flooding. You can cut off the water by turning off the main water valve, which can typically be found in the basement or some kind of utility area. Make sure you are familiar with where the water valve is located inside your building.
2. Remove Any Items If Possible: Any items that are left in a flooded area, such as furniture or other items, can become permanently damaged if they are left submerged in water. Removing these items as soon as possible is important if you want a chance and salvaging them. One they’ve been removed from the water, steps can be taken to clean and disinfect these items to prevent the growth of mold and the release of hazardous mold spores. But you should take the proper safety steps first if you plan to enter a flooded area. You should make sure that the electricity provided to the flooded area of the house is shut off, and use protective gear when you’re dealing with potentially contaminated water.

Call a Professional Burst Pipe Cleanup Company

Trying to recover your home or business from the effects of a burst pipe can be both cost effective and potentially dangerous is handled incorrectly. That’s why Excel Fire And Water Damage Restoration Services provides burst pipe cleanup for the Chicago area. When you hire our service, you can guarantee you’ll be getting help from a professional company that prioritizes safety and will get the job done right the first time. And we will even work with your insurance so you will have one less thing to worry about. Hiring a professional water damage restoration company is important because it better ensures that proper safety measures are taken. It also means that you can have more time to focus on recovering from a water damage event without having to personally deal with the messier details of a repair. When the winter months come rolling in, you can trust in us to perform burst pipe cleanup. To learn more about how you can get a free estimate you can contact Excel Fire and Water Damage Restoration Services at (224) 212-1217.