How To Limit Damage From a Broken Pipe

5/10/2020 (Permalink)

Commercial water restoration in Easton, PA

Bursting pipes are among the most common causes of commercial water damage. The extent of damage depends on the flow rate and how long water continues to be supplied to the location of the break. It is important to act quickly to stop the flow and contain water. The following measures are helpful for limiting the damage caused by a broken pipe.

Shut Off the Water Supply

The extent of damage depends on the flow rate of a pipe until water is no longer being supplied to the location of a break. Here are the flow rates for several common pipe diameters:

• A half-inch pipe releases 50 gallons per minute
• A one-inch pipe releases 210 gallons per minute
• A two-inch pipe releases 850 gallons per minute
  

Even a few minutes of uninterrupted flow may require the extraction of hundreds or thousands of gallons of standing water. Turning off the water supply will slow and stop the flow.

Contain Water Damage
If more than one occupant is present at the time of a pipe break, one person should shut off the water supply while the other takes measures to contain or limit damage. It may be possible to use containers to collect water from bursting pipes or try to protect contents from damage.

Schedule a Repair
A commercial property owner should contact a plumber to fix broken pipe. A restoration company that specializes in water damage in Easton, PA should also arrive on site in a timely manner to assess and mitigate damage.
These measures are helpful for dealing with bursting pipes at a commercial building in Easton, PA. Shutting off the supply of water to a broken pipe is the most important step that can be taken to limit damage. Building owners and managers should rely on licensed plumbers and trained restoration professionals to fix the problem and any resulting damage.