What To Do If A Pipe Bursts

A burst pipe in Oak Ridge can put a great deal of water into a house in a few minutes, and what you do first decides how much damage it causes. This guide from our team sets out the steps in order, explains why pipes burst in Oak Ridge, and covers what to do before the next freeze. If a pipe has burst in Oak Ridge, Clinton, Oliver Springs or Norris, close the main shut-off, then call (865) 272-4209.

Step by step instructions to limit the damage

Burst pipe repair in Oak Ridge starts with these steps:

1. Close the main water shut-off, where the line enters the house or at the meter box near the street.
2. Open a cold tap on the lowest floor and flush the toilets to drain the pressure out of the pipes.
3. If water is near outlets, wiring or the electrical panel, switch off those breakers. Do not stand in water to do it.
4. Turn the water heater off: the breaker for an electric unit, the gas control for a gas unit.
5. Move furniture, rugs and boxes out of the wet area and start mopping or using a wet vacuum.
6. Take photos of the pipe and the damage for your insurer before anything is repaired.
7. Call a plumber, and leave the main closed until the pipe is fixed.

If a ceiling is bulging with water, stay out from under it. Our guide on how to find your water shut-off helps with step one. We will ensure that your burst pipe repair in Oak Ridge is handled by professionals.

Why pipes burst in Oak Ridge

Pipes burst in Oak Ridge mainly because of cold. The average January temperature is about 38 degrees, which is why many homes have pipes in crawl spaces, garages and outside walls with little protection. Then an arctic front arrives. In December 2022 Oak Ridge dropped to nearly zero and stayed below freezing for more than 106 hours in a row. In January 2024 the area had its biggest snowstorm in more than three decades, with single-digit temperatures. The record low is 17 below zero, from January 1985. Water expands as it freezes, pressure builds between the ice and a closed tap, and the pipe splits, often showing only when it thaws. Age is the other cause: a large share of Oak Ridge homes date from the 1940s and around 1950, and old galvanized and copper lines fail at weak points. Our team is fully committed to reliable burst pipe repair in Oak Ridge.

Before the next freeze

Frozen pipe prevention in Oak Ridge is simple and worth doing before the forecast turns:

• Disconnect garden hoses and shut off or cover outdoor hose bibs.
• Insulate pipes in the crawl space, garage and attic, and close crawl space vents in a hard freeze.
• Open cabinet doors under sinks on outside walls so warm air reaches the pipes.
• Let a thin stream of water run from taps on outside walls on the coldest nights.
• Keep the heat on if you are away, and know where the main shut-off is.
• If a tap gives only a trickle on a freezing morning, the line may be frozen: leave the tap open and warm the pipe gently, never with an open flame.

When you need frozen pipe repair in Oak Ridge, our team is ready to help. Call (865) 272-4209 today for a quote.