What To Do If A Pipe Bursts

A burst pipe in Orange, Vidor, Bridge City or West Orange can put a large amount of water into a house in a short time, soaking drywall, flooring, insulation and cabinets. What you do in the first few minutes decides how much damage there is. In this area pipes most often burst after a hard freeze or when an old galvanized or polybutylene line finally fails. Keep this page handy, and call (409) 405-4672 as soon as the water is off.

Step by step instructions to limit the damage

Burst pipe steps for Orange homes: first, shut off the main water valve, at the house or at the meter by the street. Second, if water is near outlets, appliances or the electrical panel, switch off power to that area at the breaker, without standing in water. Third, open a cold faucet at the lowest point in the house to drain the lines. Fourth, move valuables, mop up, and take photos for insurance. Then call a plumber. Leave the main off until the broken section is repaired, even if the leak seems small, and do not use ceiling lights below a wet ceiling. Wet drywall and insulation should be dried out or removed quickly to limit mould in this humid climate. We will ensure that your burst pipe repair in Orange is handled by professionals.

Why pipes burst in Orange

Pipes burst in Orange for two main reasons. The first is cold: winters here are usually mild, so pipes in attics, exterior walls and outdoor hose bibs are often unprotected, and during the February 2021 freeze every county in Texas was under a winter storm warning and pipes burst across the state. The second is age: about 45 percent of Orange homes were built before 1970, and old galvanized pipe and polybutylene can split without warning. When you need burst pipe repair in Orange, our team is ready to help.

Before the next freeze

Freeze preparation in Orange is simple and worth doing whenever a hard freeze is forecast. Insulate pipes in the attic, garage and exterior walls, disconnect garden hoses and cover outdoor hose bibs, open cabinet doors under sinks on outside walls, and let a faucet drip on the coldest nights. Know where your main shut-off is, and see our guide on finding your water shut-off. If you leave home in winter, keep the heat on or shut the water off and drain the lines. We are committed to making freeze protection in Orange simple and reliable. Reach out to our team at (409) 405-4672 for a quote.