Cleaning Up After a Summer Burst Pipe

Let’s say it’s a warm summer’s day in Portland. It’s the weekend, and you’re crossing things off of your to-do list one by one. All of a sudden… oh no! A pipe bursts in your basement, and it’s starting to flood. You call a plumber over for the emergency. They’re able to fix the burst pipe, but now you’re left with nothing but a sizable plumbing bill and water everywhere. What do you do to clean up this situation? Today, we’ll examine what steps you need to take to clean up after a pipe bursts in your home. And, of course, how a water restoration company can help. 

Why Should You Clean Up After A Burst Pipe?

Before we discuss the steps you’ll take to fix a burst pipe, let’s discuss WHY you should. Water damage can be quite a serious issue and should be taken care of immediately in the aftermath of a pipe bursting. Not only can you cause cosmetic damage to anything that’s been affected by water, but there are two serious things you need to prevent at all costs: structural damage and mold. These two can go hand in hand, but don’t always directly correlate with each other.

First, there’s structural damage. Water damage can cause severe damage to wood, drywall, and even concrete if left untreated. This means that wood can rot through and break, drywall can crumple, and concrete can begin to deteriorate over time if water damage isn’t addressed and fixed in the aftermath of a burst pipe.

The other thing to consider is mold. Mold will not only contribute to the previously mentioned structural damage but can become a severe health hazard. Spores can grow and become airborne, spreading throughout your home and leading to things like respiratory health issues and asthma. Mold can grow anywhere from 24 to 48 hours after a burst pipe and can take up to 18 days to become visible. Mold also thrives in dark, humid places, meaning mold can grow during those warm Portland summers.

How Do You Clean Up After A Burst Pipe?

You need to take a few steps to clean up after a burst pipe in your home.

1. Make sure that the pipe didn’t burst near anything electrical. If it did, shut off the power. 
2. Remove all water-damaged items from the property. This includes carpets, furniture, and anything else that can be removed. This helps get anything out of the way that might hinder the rest of the process. It also minimizes the chance of mold growing and spreading.
3. Remove any remaining water from the floor. This can be done by either soaking it up with towels and a mop or getting a wet-dry shop vac that can suck up any remaining water. If you are looking for a wet-dry shop vac, check your local hardware shop to see if you can rent one.
4. Open windows to get fresh air in and use fans to dry out the area. If the water damage is more extensive, you should consider bringing in a dehumidifier to help remove all of the moisture from the site.

While it’s possible to clean up a burst pipe on your own, you should bring in a professional to handle the job. A professional will have the experience and knowledge to properly treat the water-damaged area. Also, they can bring the proper tools to dry the place out and properly clean and repair any water damage. A water restoration company uses industry-standard cleaners to treat mold.

If You Need To Clean Up After A Burst Pipe This Summer, Call PNW Restoration

After a pipe bursts in your home, the last thing you need is water damage and mold ruining your home. The experts at PNW Restoration can remove water and begin the immediate clean-up of your home or business. We offer 24/7 emergency response services. We will clean up a burst pipe at a moment’s notice. This means you don’t have to worry about long-term damage. If a pipe bursts in your home, call PNW Restoration at 971-247-3470 for 24/7 service.