A burst pipe puts more water into a structure in a short time than almost any other plumbing failure. The rate of discharge depends on the pipe diameter and the system pressure, but a fully ruptured three-quarter inch supply line at 65 PSI will push several hundred gallons into a wall cavity, floor assembly, or living space in an hour if the main is not shut off quickly. Long Beach Pro Plumbing Inc responds to burst pipe calls throughout Long Beach with urgency and arrives equipped to make a permanent repair on the first visit in most situations.
The first step when a pipe bursts is always shutoff. The main service valve, typically located at the meter box near the street or at a main shutoff valve near the exterior of the foundation, stops all flow to the house when closed. If the valve has not been operated in years, it may require some effort or may not fully close due to debris buildup on the valve seat. Our technicians carry valve exercise tools and know how to handle a partially functional shutoff valve without making the situation worse.
Once flow is stopped, we locate the burst and assess the full extent of damage to the pipe and any surrounding structure. Burst pipes in wall cavities often indicate that the failure point is at a fitting or a section of pipe that was already compromised before the burst. We look at the full run of pipe visible from the access point and probe the condition of adjacent sections before making the repair, because a patch on a line that has multiple weak points is a temporary fix at best.
Common burst scenarios in Long Beach involve galvanized pipe that has corroded to the point where the wall is too thin to hold system pressure, copper pipe that has developed a pinhole that enlarged under pressure, and PVC or CPVC fittings that cracked from either water hammer or external physical contact. Each of these requires different repair materials and techniques.
Water hammer, the hydraulic shock that occurs when a fast-closing valve suddenly stops a moving column of water, can crack PVC fittings at elbows and tees and can loosen solder joints on copper lines. If a burst pipe occurred near a washing machine connection or a solenoid valve, water hammer is a likely contributor. Installing hammer arrestors at the affected fixtures prevents recurrence.
After making the pipe repair, we pressure test the affected section to confirm integrity before restoring service and closing wall access. We document the work and advise you on any adjacent conditions that we observed during the repair.