It was only a couple of years ago that winter weather hit us hard and put Chicagoland into a deep freeze. That sub-zero temperature blast caused extensive residential and commercial damage. Frozen pipes ruptured and flooded homes and businesses all across the city.

You don’t want to be caught off guard by this kind of cold, wet disaster.

Do you know what to do when frozen pipes burst and soak everything in the house?

The aftermath of a ruptured pipe is harder to deal with than cleanup after a water leak.

It catches most homeowners off guard, so arm yourself now with this action plan and be prepared for the worst.

What To Do When Frozen Pipes Burst: 5 Steps for Controlling the Damage

Our teams stay busy every winter with services that help Chicago homeowners recover from water pipes that burst in the house.

It makes a big difference if you can control the situation until help arrives.

These five steps help reduce property damage and hold down restoration costs.

1. Turn Off the Water Supply

The first thing to do when frozen pipes burst is to cut off your home’s water supply. The main shut-off valve is usually located inside the house opposite the exterior pipe’s entrance.

If you need to turn off your property’s entire water system, look for an exterior cut-off valve near your meter. You might also find it outside between the curb and sidewalk in a concrete box just below ground level.

Power Tip: Locate your home’s water cut-off valves now so you can access them in case of emergencies.

2. Check Your Electrical System

Sparking and outages are very dangerous signs after any kind of leaking or flooding situation in the house:

They indicate damage to your electrical system that must be addressed by licensed technicians.

If you suspect a problem, turn off the electricity with your home’s fuse box or breaker panel.

Don’t ever risk personal safety around water and electricity.

Even if you’re sure it’s okay to work in an area, unplug nearby appliances and fixtures. Proceed with a combination of caution and common sense.

3. Call a Burst Pipe Water Damage Repair Company

When pipes start freezing here in Chicago, water damage companies get very busy with service calls.

Contact your restoration contractor immediately, and explain the extent of damage from frozen pipes that burst in your house.

By calling a restoration company right away, you ensure a prompt response from certified teams who know how to expertly handle burst pipe water damage repair.

Even minor flooding can result in serious problems throughout your home, so line up professional help before you proceed with repairs.

4. Address Leakage and Document Damage

Use a simple clamp repair kit to stop water leakage and stabilize the burst pipe.

The repair process involves wrapping a rubber sleeve around the damaged pipe and securing it with metal clamps. While this technique usually works, understand that it’s a temporary fix.

Power Tip: After clamping the ruptured pipe, open up all cold taps in the house to drain off any remaining water.

Once you have the burst pipe under control, take pictures of all affected areas before beginning any cleanup.

This gives you an accurate record of damages. The documentation helps you and your restoration contractor navigate insurance claims and paperwork.

5. Start Drying Out and Looking Up

Old newspapers serve as one of the best and cheapest materials for soaking up water. Lay down layers to wick up pools and ponds on the floor.

Fans and dehumidifiers help jump-start the drying process. If it’s not too cold and wet outside, open windows in affected rooms.

Keep an eye on the ceilings. Often, overhead frozen burst pipe leaks accumulate slowly creating a dangerous situation. If you see any bulging in the ceiling, poke a hole in the center of the area, and drain excess water into a bucket.

Let your water damage contractor address structural ceiling repairs.

Follow Through With a Restoration Professional

The steps we’ve outlined can minimize damage to your home, but we recommend following through with professional water cleanup and restoration.

Flooding from ruptured pipes causes serious problems including:

Compromised electrical and gas lines

Structural damage to load-bearing walls

Soaked sheetrock and insulation

Saturated environments that cause mold growth

As soon as you call a professional restoration contractor, crews are on the way to address damage and cleanup.

Your efforts make the cleanup job easier, but always be careful. If you have any doubts about personal safety, wait until professionals arrive on the scene.

Making Your Chicago Winters Easier

Whether you need pointers on how to clean up after a water leak or tackle ruptured frozen pipes, we’re here to help.

When severe cold blasts your home into the deep freeze zone, don’t face flooding from frozen pipes by yourself.

We provide expert burst pipe water damage repair services across Chicago and the suburbs.

You can always count on ServiceMaster Restoration by Zaba to answer your first call regardless of the weather.

Call us now for immediate help: 773-647-1985