If you suspect a busted pipe at your home or business and water is leaking out of a wall or dripping down from the ceiling, give our emergency plumbers a call at (210) 521-1500. Our San Antonio plumbing company has over 20 years of experience fixing burst pipes across South Texas. Keep reading to learn more about our broken pipe replacement and repair services.
Burst Pipe Repair vs. Replacement
Wondering whether you should fix the existing pipe or replace it with a new one? Your plumber will be the best person to answer that question for you depending on the extent of damage the pipe sustained. However, in most cases when a pipe explodes it causes catastrophic damage requiring replacement.
Broken & Busted Pipe Causes
The most common cause of burst pipes is freezing. When a pipe freezes the water expands, creating incredibly dangerous psi inside the pipe. When it explodes the water comes out at an alarmingly high flow rate capable of causing tremendous water damage if not addressed immediately. Keep reading to learn what you should do while you’re waiting for the plumber to minimize damage to your home and belongings.
Other Burst Pipe Causes
Other culprits that can cause a high-pressure water leak include faulty manufacturing, pipe corrosion, improperly laid tile, corroded seals, or excessive water pressure from your water mainline.
Pipe Repair & Replacement FAQs
The cost to repair a busted pipe differs depending on what type of pipe it is, its location, how easy it is to access, and the extent of pipe damage. The average cost to repair an easy to access damaged pipe is generally between $300 and $1000 but the price can also be lower or higher depending on the extent of the damage. If the pipe sustains irreparable damage or the patches or sleeves don’t hold, you may end up having to pay for replacement just a short time after paying to repair it.
The cost to replace busted pipes is almost impossible to define without knowing where the pipe exploded, what type of pipe it is, and how easy it is to get to but you should expect to pay more than $1000 and possibly up to $5000.
Here’s what you need can do now to minimize damage in your home until our plumbers can get there if a pipe is leaking water inside your home.
Turn the Water Off at the Main Shutoff Valve — Minimize water damage to your flooring, sheetrock, ceiling, furniture, and other belongings by turning off the water supply to your home using the emergency shutoff valve. If you have a newer home the shutoff valve is probably located near the curb in front of your home under a plastic grate. If you have an older home, it could be in the basement, utility closet, garage, kitchen pantry, or somewhere else inside. If you had your home repiped with PEX you can use the zone shutoff valve located inside your home.
Turn Off the Electricity – If there is a significant amount of standing water on your floors or ceiling you need to turn off the electricity to your home or business to avoid electrocution.
Vacuum or Dry Wet Areas – If you have a shop vac or other vacuum that can safely extract water from the ground or inside the wall use it to suck up any standing water. If you don’t have a shop vac you can use towels and blankets to soak up any excess moisture to minimize damage to furniture, drywall, wood floors, and personal belongings.
Turn Fans On – If you have ceiling fans, box fans, or any other type of fans turn them on in the area of the leak to help expedite the drying process and inhibit mold growth. The air circulation will help remove moisture from the drywall, wood, and ceiling. If any furniture or other personal belongings got wet, trying airing them out in the sun if possible.
Free Quote for Busted Pipe Repair & Replacement
Contact Service First AC Repair & Plumbing 24 hours a day or call (210) 521-1500 and request a quote to fix busted pipes, repair an HVAC system, or gas leak. We have plumbers in New Braunfels and San Antonio, Texas, and provide residential and commercial services at homes and businesses across the greater South Texas area.