How To Address a Broken Pipe

9/27/2021 (Permalink)

Cleaning up your office space after bursting pipes can be a daunting project.

The issue of bursting pipes can cause significant water damage inside any San Jose, CA, business. Knowing how to efficiently address the situation is key to preventing additional destruction.

1. Turn Off the Water

Your first step is to shut off the water supply to the affected pipe. To accomplish this, you may need to access the building’s water main and turn off the water to the entire building. You may also need to shut down the water heater as well as electrical flow to the affected area to prevent electrical shock.

2. Drain Water From the Pipe

Before you fix the broken pipe, you may need to drain any remaining water. To help empty pipes, flush nearby toilets and allow faucets to run until dry.

3. Assess and Repair the Damaged Pipe

Once the pipe is drained, maintenance personnel or a licensed plumber can properly assess the damaged pipe, commence repairs, and restore water flow.

4. Clean and Dry the Saturated Area

Bursting pipes can release significant amounts of water. If you do not quickly dry the saturated area, your business may suffer mold damage. For this reason, you should work diligently to dry the water-damaged space while the maintenance team is working to fix the broken pipe.

The cleanup process involves several important steps:

• Drain standing water with a sump pump
• Remove all wet items including furniture, office equipment, and carpets
• Make a flood cut to discard saturated drywall and insulation
• Use fans and dehumidifiers to expedite the drying process

5. Replace and Restore

Before you can return to normal business operations, you must complete repairs and determine the salvageability of computers and other office equipment. It’s important to ensure that the affected area is completely dry before you replace drywall and flooring. Completing repairs while the space is still damp makes you susceptible to mold contamination.

Professional Assistance

Cleaning up your office space after bursting pipes can be a daunting project. A professional cleanup and restoration team can assist you throughout the process and ensure that your building is successfully restored as soon as possible.