Water line busted in home.. floor flooded..advice?

[Johnny2Bad]

I would say that the damage is sufficient that you should be making a claim. Since once a claim is made, the actual damages matter little (it isn't the amount, but the fact that you made a claim at all that they will act on with regard to future rate increases or denial) you may as well hire professionals and get every single thing corrected and replaced.

Every situation and policy is unique; so you should carefully assess your particular issue. But water damage is broadly speaking difficult to remedy unless it's very limited in scope. You may not save any money by doing it yourself; in fact it may cost you much more than making a claim and paying any increased premiums.

There is also the matter of your family's health. You don't want your family getting scabies or having to deal with vermin infestations.

 

[tomcat27]

I had a pipe break. the water ran for days/weeks. it was winter time for a summer home. A neighbor noticed that my yard was the only one without a foot of snow. he still waited a few days to call me.

regardless, my insurance company was not interested in having me do the work. ServPro came in, lifted the carpets, sprayed bleach, ran fans. that's all they did.

I would do it myself next time. I would also shut the water off.

actually, I did shut the water off the next winter and blow air through the lines. turning the water back on the next spring I heard water spraying inside the walls behind kitchen cabinets. within 45 minutes I had removed enough siding from that side of the house to remove the sheathing and access/repair the break. after that, I pumped pink anti-freeze through all the plumbing and never had a problem.

 

[Wolf359]

Originally Posted By: tomcat27
I had a pipe break. the water ran for days/weeks. it was winter time for a summer home. A neighbor noticed that my yard was the only one without a foot of snow. he still waited a few days to call me.

regardless, my insurance company was not interested in having me do the work. ServPro came in, lifted the carpets, sprayed bleach, ran fans. that's all they did.

I would do it myself next time. I would also shut the water off.

actually, I did shut the water off the next winter and blow air through the lines. turning the water back on the next spring I heard water spraying inside the walls behind kitchen cabinets. within 45 minutes I had removed enough siding from that side of the house to remove the sheathing and access/repair the break. after that, I pumped pink anti-freeze through all the plumbing and never had a problem.


I've bought a couple homes with missing copper/frozen pipes. It always seems to pool at the elbows even if you drain the pipes, it's hard to get all the water out. Pex is the way to go these days.

 

[CKN]

Originally Posted By: PimTac
This is a reminder to all of us that turning off the water when we leave the house for any extended length of time is a prudent measure. If I am going to be gone longer than 24 hours, I turn it off.




It depends on how your outside sprinklers are configured in to main waterline-if you can turn off the water supply. Also, turning off the water has been known to cause issues with the newer refrigerator ice maker systems.

Not saying it's not a good idea worth considering-but could be slightly more complicated than your suggestion.

 

[Cujet]

I always turn off my well pump when I'm away.

Too many risky pipes, hoses and fittings.

I know you indicated you wanted to DIY. Use your shop vac like crazy, get a dehumidifier, and run it 24/7. Your air conditioning system can also remove moisture if run 24/7 and will be more effective if used with electric space heaters. As the AC won't cycle off as often and you can heat localized areas.

The faster you dry it up, the lower the chances of mold. Once the mold and mildew starts, it's exceedingly difficult to eliminate. My office had a similar water problem and it was allowed to fester while we were away. It's been addressed professionally, but the mold comes back at any hint of moisture! It now REQUIRES a dehumidifier 24/7, otherwise the mold grows.

 

[PimTac]

"It depends on how your outside sprinklers are configured in to main waterline-if you can turn off the water supply. Also, turning off the water has been known to cause issues with the newer refrigerator ice maker systems.

Not saying it's not a good idea worth considering-but could be slightly more complicated than your suggestion."





Good points. Every house has to be handled in its own way. If possible , installing a valve on house plumbing that leaves the outside sprinklers active is well worth the effort. I'm not familiar with the ice makers on newer refrigerators. I'm guessing they cannot be turned off like before?

 

[CKN]

Originally Posted By: PimTac




"It depends on how your outside sprinklers are configured in to main waterline-if you can turn off the water supply. Also, turning off the water has been known to cause issues with the newer refrigerator ice maker systems.

Not saying it's not a good idea worth considering-but could be slightly more complicated than your suggestion."





Good points. Every house has to be handled in its own way. If possible , installing a valve on house plumbing that leaves the outside sprinklers active is well worth the effort. I'm not familiar with the ice makers on newer refrigerators. I'm guessing they cannot be turned off like before?



The reports is if you turn them off for any length of time-many do not start making ice once you turn them back on. Those have been the reports I have read. Don't think it's that wide spread-but it's out there.

 

[Johnny2Bad]

Originally Posted By: tomcat27
I had a pipe break. the water ran for days/weeks. it was winter time for a summer home. A neighbor noticed that my yard was the only one without a foot of snow. he still waited a few days to call me.

regardless, my insurance company was not interested in having me do the work. ServPro came in, lifted the carpets, sprayed bleach, ran fans. that's all they did.

I would do it myself next time. I would also shut the water off.

actually, I did shut the water off the next winter and blow air through the lines. turning the water back on the next spring I heard water spraying inside the walls behind kitchen cabinets. within 45 minutes I had removed enough siding from that side of the house to remove the sheathing and access/repair the break. after that, I pumped pink anti-freeze through all the plumbing and never had a problem.


I wouldn't let that level of repair stand unchallenged, unless you feel it was all that was needed, which I suppose is possible. If I didn't like what ServPro did, I'd pay for a building inspector and insist everything in his report was performed. The insurance company pays for whatever the Claims Adjuster shells out ... cheap or expensive, it doesn't matter either way. All they care about is there was a claim; it doesn't matter what the claim added up to. That's not to say there isn't an incentive to keep costs low, but that's the Adjuster's problem, not yours ... it's how they justify their fee to the insurer.

There are quite a few "tricks" to winterizing water lines. You have to open and clear at the lowest point in the system, and give it plenty of time before you consider it all good, as water will always fill the low point, for example. The "RV Anti-freeze" product works well for priming anything you don't or can't leave dry (every toilet bowl, sink traps, the list goes on, actually).

I spend a few seasons winterizing a camp that was unheated over winter ... about 120 units, two commercial kitchens, water heaters, and so on. There was never a leak the next spring when I did it, but when others had at it, we were repairing. They would overlook some little thing and that was that.

 

[raytseng]

homedepot or lowes or other equipment rental all have commercial equipment for rent if you just need something shortterm until insurance kicks in

 

[SHOZ]

I came home from work once to the sound of running water. A plastic pipe I had never glued came apart after about 10 ears of use.

I also had the aluminum pilot gas tube get a hole in it and bleed off all the propane in my tank. It appears to have been right where the tube enters the burn chamber and it all just burnt up I guess. Only way I found it was the cold hot water and then no propane.

 

[sleddriver]

wow...that's a huge drag.

Whenever I go on a trip, I turn the house water off and open a faucet to relieve the pressure.