What To Do If A Pipe Bursts
A burst pipe can put several gallons a minute into a house, and in Hilton Head Island it often happens where nobody is watching: in a second home between visits, in a rental between guests, or under a raised house on a freezing night. The first five minutes decide how much damage is done. Our team wrote these steps so you can act before a plumber arrives. Once the water is off, call (843) 547-5621; same-day visits are often possible when a plumber is available.
Step by step instructions to limit the damage
- Shut the water off at the main valve. Hilton Head PSD says it is normally on the customer side of the meter box near the street, or just outside where the service line enters the foundation.
- If water is near outlets, appliances or the electrical panel, switch the power off at the breaker, but only if you can reach it without standing in water.
- Turn the water heater off: the breaker for electric, the gas valve for propane or natural gas.
- Open the lowest faucet in the house, and a high one, to drain what is left in the lines.
- Move furniture, rugs and electronics, and start mopping or use a wet vacuum. Take photos for your insurer as you go.
- If you manage the property for someone else, tell the owner, and tell us how our plumber gets through the gate and into the unit.
In a villa or condominium, water travels to the units below, so tell the regime or the property manager as well. Our team is fully committed to reliable burst pipe repair in Hilton Head Island.
Why pipes burst in Hilton Head Island
There are four usual causes. Freezing is the rare one: island winters are mild, with average lows in the low 40s, but the January 2018 storm left about 4.5 inches of snow and days of cold, and exposed pipes are seldom insulated here. Age is the common one, since the median island home dates from 1987 and some still have polybutylene supply pipe. Corrosion from salt air weakens outdoor fittings and exposed copper. And storms break yard lines; Hilton Head PSD recorded scores of broken private service lines after Hurricane Matthew in 2016. We will ensure that your burst pipe repair in Hilton Head Island is handled by professionals.
Before the next freeze
- Find the main shut-off now and make sure it turns; see how to find your water shut-off
- Insulate pipes in garages, attics and under raised homes
- Disconnect hoses and cover hose bibs and outdoor showers
- Protect the irrigation backflow preventer, or have the system drained
- In a home that will sit empty, shut the water off at the main and turn the water heater off
- On a freezing night in an occupied home, let a thin stream run from the tap furthest from the meter and open the cabinet doors under sinks on outside walls
The same shut-off routine is what Hilton Head PSD recommends before a hurricane. When you need a plumber in Hilton Head Island, our team is ready to help. Call (843) 547-5621 today for a quote.