Friends, we are living in the aftermath of a season of inclement weather that has been causing damage and emergencies in many of our homes, and one of the most common is a broken water pipe. Due to low temperatures, the water begins to freeze, increasing in volume, which pipelines do not resist and burst.

Our cleaning team is trained on how to react if they encounter such an emergency and we want to pass on to you some recommendations. First, you must know where your home’s water valves are located. Typically, they are brass valves with a handle, usually round and made of aluminum. Think of the spots where you use water. In the kitchen, in the laundry room, in the water heater closet, and the bathroom under the sinks, behind toilets, and in general at the fixtures or appliances (even behind access panels). Find the main shut-off valve that supplies all the water to your house and shut it off—also, the one on the street (sometimes the meter) that closes the water supply to the entire property, but that should be the last resort. Remember that all the valves will be closed if you turn it counterclockwise and they will be opened clockwise. 

How to prevent this emergency:

• Let the faucets drip slowly during extreme cold spells to help prevent the water from freezing and to relieve pressure in the event that minor ice forms. Set a bucket in the sink to collect the water that drips, so it can be saved for other household uses.
• Isolating the pipes is essential, for which there are many thermal tapes and insulating accessories that you should install to prevent further damage.
• Swipe left to see some photos of examples of water valve locations.

A broken water pipe can happen at any time and even more at places with strong weather changes. Those can start with just a little bit of leak of water near the pipes or into the valve that supplies all the water at home, so there are two types of leaks. One is simple, external, and easily perceived and the second one is an invisible leak, is slowly generated in hidden places such as behind the walls or under the floor and when it becomes visible it will have already wet a large part of the surface that covers it and we realize when the floor is already raised, it feels wet. In this case, it is already a may leak and we must carry out major repairs, so if you notice any dripping that does not come from your daily routine, check that the pipes do not have water around them and find the shut-off valve that supplies the area or the main valve and close it full to stop the flow of water. Sometimes the principal supply valve that is outside the house has keys for security so it is important to keep the keys of the suppliers always in an easily accessible place in case of emergency. 

Cabinet valve in a hidden box.

The general places of pipes accidents in the bathrooms can be over the faucets, behind the toilet, near the sink or even on the shower wall, in the kitchen be careful on the fridge wall with the water connection that supplied water to the refrigerator, on the junction of the faucets with the counter and below this, inside the wood cabinet. 

What to do at the time of an accident?
If you noticed a single water leak, immediately find the closest main water valve, close it (turn it counterclockwise)  and put around the pipe a towel and use a water hose to redirect all the water that comes out into a bucket to prevent damage to the drywall, flooring, or baseboard until your plumber has arrived. 

To avoid damage at home, make sure to carry out frequent checks on the water pipes, always have the telephone number of your trusted plumber and if you discover a leak, no matter how small, have it checked as soon as possible. In this way, you will avoid great damages that can cost a lot of money. 

Advice: Taking at home one custom Home Depot kit that should include a water meter valve kit, crescent wrench, and a clear hose that can cost less than $30 would be recommended. All those will be of great help at the moment of an accident to redirect water to a toilet or a bucket and open the valve or shut it off.