As unpleasant as they may be to think about, pipe bursts do occur from time to time within a residential setting. The more you know about how they develop, the better prepared you’ll be to prevent them in the first place or limit their damage with a cleaning service if they’ve already started. Here’s a guide to different facets of this challenging situation. 

Why Do Pipes Burst?

The most common reason that pipes burst is when the water inside of them freezes. As the water turns to ice, its volume will begin to expand, exerting tremendous pressure on the metal walls. If the pressure is strong enough, it will burst through at the weakest point of the pipe, creating a rupture. When water next comes through, some of it will escape through the hole. 

Another common cause is when a pipe begins to corrode after many decades in use. The minerals in your water will scratch against the surface, weakening its integrity over time. The iron will start rusting, and as a result, expand inward, narrowing the passageway for new water, and creating the same pressure problem as the ice. 

How Will the Burst Pipe Affect Your Home?

When water begins flooding through a pipe exposure, that liquid will start finding its way to all different parts of your home. When it reaches wood, it could begin to cause rot and, if it comes into contact with wires, the H2O could severely damage your electrical system. The water also has the capacity to soften and damage walls, ceilings, and even furniture and appliances. The faster the cleaning service arrives, the better the chance of preventing extensive damage. 

The other problem that rampant water presents is that it turns your home into a massive breeding ground for mold. With such high levels of mold and mildew in your air, it may be difficult to continue to live in your current dwelling. To avoid these financial and health-related consequences, it’s urgent that you turn your water valve off immediately and talk to both a plumber and a disaster restoration company if the leak has been going for a while. 

If your home has experienced water damage from a burst pipe, don’t hesitate to get in touch with a trusted expert at Triple A Maintenance in Barron County, WI. The IICRC-certified cleaning service is available to help anytime with emergency water damage by removing all the excess moisture from your space and rooting out mold. You can request an estimate from the cleaning service company by calling (715) 458-4699 or by visiting their website.