What To Do If A Pipe Bursts

A burst pipe can put a startling amount of water into a house in a short time, and in Prescott Valley it usually happens on the coldest nights of the year, often in a garage, an exterior wall or under a manufactured home. What you do in the first few minutes decides whether it is a repair or a remodel. Follow the steps below, then call (928) 295-4186 and our team will make sure the repair is completed properly.

Step by step instructions to limit the damage

1. Close the main water shut-off. In most Prescott Valley homes it is near the water heater, where the line enters the house, or in a box near the meter. On a well, also switch off the pump.
2. If water is near outlets, appliances or the electrical panel, turn off power at the breaker. Do not stand in water to do it.
3. If the water heater is involved, turn off its gas or breaker.
4. Open a faucet at the lowest point of the house to drain what is left in the pipes.
5. Move furniture and valuables, mop up, and put towels down.
6. Take photos for your insurer.
7. Call (928) 295-4186.

Why pipes burst in Prescott Valley

Water expands as it freezes, and a pipe full of ice splits. Prescott Valley's cold season runs from late November to early March, with December nights averaging below freezing. The Town says freezing pipes are mostly a problem for manufactured homes and trailers, where lines under the skirt need insulation. In site-built homes, the usual failures are hose bibs, pipes in exterior walls and garages, attic lines and irrigation backflow devices. Our team also knows that old or scaled pipe and high water pressure add to it. A frozen pipe often does not leak until it thaws, so if a tap gives no water on a frozen morning, find the shut-off before the sun warms the line. Our team is fully committed to reliable burst pipe repair in Prescott Valley.

Before the next freeze

• Insulate every pipe under a manufactured home's skirt, and close any gaps in the skirt.
• Disconnect garden hoses and cover outdoor faucets, or have our team fit frost-free hose bibs.
• Drain and insulate irrigation backflow devices before the first hard freeze.
• On cold nights, open cabinet doors on outside walls and keep the house heated, even when you are away.
• Know where your main shut-off is and make sure it turns. See how to find your water shut-off.
• If you leave for the winter, shut the water off at the main and drain the lines.
• If a pipe has burst before, have our plumbers check whether it should be rerouted inside the heated part of the house.