Help! A water pipe burst, what do I do now? !!!

Water collects in a Lazy Susan

Mold can start to grow as soon as 24 hours after water damage is done. Even in the cold of winter, mold can grow. Working quickly is essential to getting the house back together, but it must be done correctly.

Here are the *basic* steps to take when dealing with water damage from clean water, like from a broken water pipe:

1. Stop the water flow by using a shut-off valve near source of the leak. Use the main house shut off valve if a closer valve is not available. If there are NO shut off valves, call your local water department immediately.
2. Use a wet vac to vacuum up all the standing water. Extracting water from carpet may require a professional to get it done properly.
3. Remove any water soaked and damaged items. Any item made from paper, wood, fabric, or other natural porous material must be thrown away. It is a food source for mold. This also includes drywall. If you see water being pulled up the walls from the floor, it is time to call in a professional.
4. Dry the property out ASAP. We use industrial air movers and dehumidifiers to dry it out as quickly as possible. For a smaller water damage situation, a homeowner can use household fans to move the air to help evaporation.
5. Treat the areas with anti-microbial spray to prevent the growth of mold. Read the instructions for use, and take all safety precautions.
6. After everything is thoroughly dry, it is now time to rebuild.

Door jambs absorb water and start to discolor. A place where mold can grow.

These are just basic steps to contain a small amount of water damage from a clean water source. If there has been a lot of water, or the house has been flooded because the water source was allowed to run too long, you should call in a professional to take care of the damage.

S.T.O.P. – Service Team Of Professionals of Eastern PA is a local disaster restoration company based in Langhorne, Bucks County, PA. We are here to help you with any property damage caused by water, flood, mold, smoke, fire, vandalism or hoarding.
We can be reached 24/7 for emergencies at:  267-433-5500