Burst Pipe Water Damage in Charleston, WV

What happens when a pipe bursts?

A burst pipe is a supply line that splits, cracks or separates at a fitting, releasing water under full household pressure until the water is shut off. Because supply lines are pressurized, the volume is large and fast. Water runs along joists, down wall cavities and through ceilings, often ending up far from where the pipe actually broke.

The good news is that supply water is clean. If the leak is found and dried quickly, much of the structure can usually be dried in place rather than torn out.

Why pipes burst in Charleston homes

Freezing

West Virginia winters bring cold snaps cold enough to freeze pipes in exterior walls, unheated crawl spaces, garages and attics. As water freezes, it expands and builds pressure between the ice and a closed faucet. The pipe often splits in a section that never froze. Many frozen pipes do not leak until they thaw, which is why burst pipes are often found the morning after a cold night.

Corrosion in older plumbing

Many older homes around Charleston, including much of the housing on the West Side, in the East End and in Kanawha City, were built with galvanized steel supply lines. Galvanized pipe corrodes from the inside, narrows over the decades and eventually fails, often at threaded joints inside walls.

Fittings and supply lines

Braided supply lines to toilets, sinks and washing machines, plastic ice-maker lines and push-on fittings can fail without warning. These leaks are often near the floor, where water spreads under cabinets and flooring.

Signs of a hidden pipe leak

• A water stain spreading on a ceiling or wall
• Bubbling or peeling paint
• Warped, cupped or soft flooring
• The sound of running water when nothing is on
• A water bill that jumped suddenly
• Low water pressure in part of the house

A hidden leak that has run for days or weeks is a different job from a sudden burst. Long-term leaks often come with ceiling and drywall water damage and sometimes mold.

How burst pipe water damage is cleaned up

1. Shut off the waterThe main valve is closed and the broken section is located so a plumber can repair it.
2. Extract standing waterWater on floors and in carpet is extracted before it spreads further.
3. Find where the water traveledMoisture meters and thermal imaging trace water into walls, ceilings and subfloors, often well beyond the visible stain.
4. Open what needs openingSmall holes or flood cuts let air into wet wall cavities. Saturated ceiling drywall that is sagging is taken down.
5. Dry the structureAir movers, dehumidifiers and wall-cavity drying systems run until framing and drywall are back to normal readings.
6. Document the jobPhotos, moisture logs and the broken pipe section are kept on record.

What to do right now

1. Shut off the main water valve. Know where it is before you need it.
2. Open a faucet on the lowest floor to drain pressure from the lines.
3. Turn off power to any area where water is near outlets, fixtures or appliances, if you can do it safely.
4. Catch and move water away from flooring with towels and buckets.
5. Call a plumber for the pipe and restoration help for the water. The plumber fixes the leak; we deal with everything the water touched.
6. Keep the broken piece of pipe or fitting so the cause is on record.

How to prevent burst pipes

Frozen pipes are one of the common causes of water damage in Charleston homes, and most are preventable. The basics:

• Insulate pipes in crawl spaces, garages and exterior walls.
• In a cold snap, let faucets on exterior walls drip and open sink cabinet doors.
• Keep the heat at 55°F or higher when you are away in winter.
• Disconnect garden hoses and shut off outdoor spigots before the first freeze.
• Replace old galvanized lines and braided supply lines that are more than ten years old.
• Learn where the main shutoff is and make sure it turns.

Burst pipe help across Kanawha County

Frozen pipe calls cluster in older homes with crawl spaces and exterior-wall plumbing, from North Charleston to Malden and Rand and Sissonville. Burst pipe cleanup falls under water damage restoration and usually starts with emergency water removal. For any kind of damage, see property damage restoration in Kanawha County.

Burst pipe FAQs