A leaky pipe can lead to thousands, sometimes tens of thousands, of dollars worth of damage to your home. Ceilings, walls, flooring, trim, cabinets, furniture, and many other valuable personal items can be damaged by water from a pipe burst or pipe leak.
Here are 5 simple steps for fixing a leaky pipe the right way.
1. Shut off the water valve and turn on the faucet to drain the water that remains in the pipes. This is THE MOST IMPORTANT STEP! A sudden pipe leak is claimable on your insurance policy, and turning off the water fulfills your obligation to mitigate (prevent) further loss. Chris Ashley, Divisional President of ACI Adjustment Group, Doylestown's leading Public Adjusting firm, says, "Most homeowners don't realize that if they handle a claim properly, many times we can secure a settlement that would replace all of the damaged material in their home. Most homeowners don't know how to handle their claim properly and don't know their policy or home construction well enough to negotiate with their insurance company, and that is why we are here to help."
2. Call a Public Adjuster, such as ACI Adjustment Group. ACI performs free property inspections to qualify if your damage is worth pursuing a claim. For a free inspection call 1-800-809-4302 ext. 21 or visit www.aciadjustment.com.
3. If it is a small leak, dry the pipe and fill the leak with epoxy (sold at most hardware stores). Cover the leak with rubber, then tighten a clamp around the rubber and let it sit for an hour. Wrap water resistant tape around the pipe after the epoxy has dried.
4. If it is a large leak, measure the size of the pipe that needs replacement, but a replacement at a plumbing or home improvement store. Shut the water off, drain the pipe, and use a metal cutting saw to remove the damaged piece of piping. If your replacement piece is copper, you will need to solder it into place. Union pieces are usually available to join other materials of replacement piping. If this is the case, you will need to tighten the coupling of the joining piece to ensure that is secure and won't leak.
5. Turn your water back on and wash your hands!
