Burst Pipe Repair Aurora

The usual indicators of a broken pipe include water bills that have suddenly spiked, stains that have appeared on your ceilings or walls, and the unmistakable sound of running water when all your faucets are off. Listening closely, you might also discern that your water pressure has dipped and that certain parts of your house have become increasingly damp. If you live in a place as cold as Aurora, or even just in a wintery state like Colorado, your pipes are at a heightened risk of freezing and bursting—especially during the kind of temperature fluctuations that are our winter hallmark.

Ensure that pipes are insulated, particularly in unheated spaces and areas subject to variable temperatures, like attics and basements. To further protect your plumbing, let your faucets drip and keep doors open to allow your heating system to keep the plumbing warm. Make sure that your winter heating system is adequate and that all parts of your home receiving plumbing have consistent heat and are air-tight. Otherwise, as long as the water is in the pipes, it shouldn't burst no matter how cold it gets.

To begin with, stop the main water supply from pouring more water into your house. Call a nearby plumber and get him or her headed your way. While you wait, do the best you can to get the water out of the house. That means using every means at your disposal—sump pumps, wet vacuums, and the like—to get the standing water out of the place. Also, take pictures. You and your insurance company will want to remember what the place looked like before and after.

Structural damage can be signaled by such things as a ceiling that appears to be sagging, walls that are cracked, or floors that are buckled. If too much water has gotten into a building, the signs may have already shown up in the form of significant mold or in that almost too familiar musty basement smell. Professional eyes are usually best at determining just how bad things have gotten, and even they don't always catch everything. Time can be the biggest ally in the wall getting reestablished as a wall rather than a roof doing double duty.

A burst pipe can take anywhere from a few hours to several days to repair, depending on how bad the break is and where it occurred. If the pipe has burst in an easy-to-reach spot and hasn't caused too much damage, it can be repaired quickly—even in a way that allows you to get back to your normal routine soon after the work is done. Of course, "repairs" might also include water damage restoration if the flooding from the burst pipe caused significant damage.

In Aurora, the majority of homeowners' insurance policies provide coverage for sudden and accidental water damage, which generally encompasses repairs needed due to burst pipes. But there can be a significant variance in coverage depending on the actual conditions that resulted in the pipe bursting. If the pipe burst due to improperly maintained plumbing systems, for instance, or if your home insurance agent deems there was some lack of reasonable care that led up to the incident, then you might have a claim that could be denied. As always, it's crucial to thoroughly understand your policy and to have a frank conversation with your agent about the particulars of your situation.

There are pronounced changes in temperature throughout the seasons in Aurora. During winter, half of the year can be spent with temperatures below the freezing mark. Water in your pipes can freeze and become so pressurized that the pipe either bursts or comes apart at the seams. This is a problem in conjunction with the plumbing system having to deal with stresses created by too rapid a temperature drop. Insulating your plumbing, especially the parts that are in unheated areas, and properly maintaining the plumbing, can reduce the likelihood of having this happen to you.

When dealing with pipe ruptures, plumbers typically reach for repair supplies like copper, PEX, or PVC. While copper is still common, particularly in older homes, it's also more likely to break under extreme conditions, such as when the temperature plummets. PEX has become the go-to material for a lot of plumbing repairs, thanks to its flexibility, ability to withstand freezing temperatures, and lower price tag. So, what dictates the choice of plumbing repair materials?

Homeowners can usually manage slight leaks and temporary fixes, but when a pipe bursts, it's often a job for the pros. That's due to the risk of further damage, the complexity of the repairs, and the need to ensure that a comprehensive plumbing solution is found and implemented. A plumber worth their salt can and will find any other potential problems lurking along the plumbing line and fix them, too. They have the expertise and the tools necessary to do the job right and to do it in a way that meets all the local codes and regulations.

To find a reliable plumber, begin by soliciting recommendations from friends, family, or neighbors who have hired similar types of workers. When you check the potential plumbers’ online reviews and ratings, pay as much attention to the number of reviews they have as to the average rating. A plumber with a low average rating but a high number of reviews is likely to be one you should avoid. Make sure to also confirm that the potential plumbers are both licensed and insured. Finally, it is wise to get at least three different quotes to compare.