Pipe Burst

2/20/2020 (Permalink)

Sink pipe in the cabinet under a bathroom sink.

A pipe burst in your Chino / Chino Hills home can be a real headache and cause extensive damage. Luckily, the water inside of pipes is typically clean meaning that in the event of a burst or rupture, most items affected can be saved.

In the restoration industry, clean water is referred to as either “white water” or “Category 1 water”. It originates from pipes, supply lines, faucets, and other sources. While the water may start uncontaminated, it can very quickly become contaminated if left untreated. Debris and other contaminants can rapidly make a bad situation worse. Take these steps immediately after a clean water pipe burst to prevent further issues from arising:

Address the source of the water

In other words, remove the water. If an area is flooded, turn off the homes water and immediately begin trying to dry out the affected area. Household fans and dehumidifiers are your best friend in these types of situations. If the humidity is low outside and weather conditions permit, open windows and doors to allow airflow into the affected area.

Save what can be saved

Dry wall and carpet can be dried out and saved. It is important to make sure these materials are completely dried out, otherwise you run the risk of mold growing. Mold is a much more complicated issue, so I really want to emphasize completely dried out.

Clean water flooding is no big deal and can typically be a fairly painless undertaking to resolve. That being said, when clean water becomes contaminated, the situation can get very sticky very fast.

In the event of water contamination

There are different degrees of contamination. For instance, “gray water” or “Category 2 water” is identified as having non-infectious or minimally harmful substances (laundry detergent, soap, etc.) present. “Black water” or “Category 3 water” is highly contaminated and presents an obvious health risk. Flood waters and sewage lines fall into this category. For both Category 2 and 3 water events, the cleanup process is mostly the as clean water flooding, with a few additional steps. Anything that could have possibly come into contact with the contaminated water must be properly and thoroughly cleaned and sanitized. Carpet and drywall (and any type of porous material) will have to be torn out and replaced. Non-porous objects can usually be cleaned with an antimicrobial solution and are considered safe after being sanitized.

Whether your home floods due to a pipe burst, roof leak, or any other source, you want the best of the best to help you get your home back to normal quickly and safely. SERVPRO of Chino / Chino Hills is here to help 24/7, 365 days a year.