Burst pipe water damage in Tucson
Tucson doesn't freeze often, but when it does, pipes in attics, exterior walls and outdoor hose bibs are not built for it. More often a pipe fails from age, a bad fitting or a supply line that gives out under a sink or toilet.
First five minutes
- Close the main shut-off valve. Know where it is before you need it.
- Open a faucet at the lowest point of the house to drain the remaining pressure.
- Turn off the water heater if the leak is on the hot side.
- Kill power to any room where water is near outlets or appliances.
- Photograph the break and the damage before cleanup starts.
Attic lines and ceiling damage
Many Tucson homes, especially ones that had slab lines rerouted, run water pipes through the attic. When an attic line breaks, water comes through ceiling drywall and insulation. Wet blown-in insulation usually has to be removed, and sagging drywall should be opened up before it drops on its own.
Hard freeze nights
On the few nights each winter that drop into the 20s, open cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls, cover outdoor faucets, and let a faucet drip. Pipes often crack during the freeze but don't leak until they thaw the next morning.
Questions people ask
Is a burst pipe covered by insurance?
Sudden pipe bursts are generally covered by standard homeowner's policies. Damage from a slow leak you knew about, or from freezing in a vacant house that wasn't heated, may be excluded.
Who do I call first, a plumber or a water damage company?
Shut off the water first. Then you need both. Many water damage companies can arrange the plumbing repair, or work alongside your plumber.