When Pipes Break: What Every Family Needs to Know

Picture a Wednesday evening in December. The temperature outside has dropped well below freezing. A family in the Spokane Valley is watching television when they hear it: a sharp crack from somewhere in the basement, followed by the unmistakable sound of rushing water.

A pipe has burst. And in that moment, what they do next will determine whether the damage is measured in hundreds of dollars or thousands.

Why Pipes Break

Pipes may break for a number of reasons. Cold weather is the most common culprit in our region. When water freezes inside a pipe, it expands. That expansion creates enormous pressure, and eventually, the pipe gives way.

But freezing is not the only cause. Age plays a role. So does construction work, physical impact, and sometimes just the slow wear of time on materials that were never designed to last forever. Whatever the cause, the result is the same: a previously working plumbing system turns into a flood.

What to Do in the First Five Minutes

If a pipe bursts in your home, here is what we tell folks:

First, find your main water shut off valve and turn it off. Every second counts. If you do not know where it is, that is worth figuring out today, before an emergency happens.

Second, call us. Plumb Zebra has 24 hour emergency service. We are here on nights, weekends, and holidays because plumbing emergencies do not keep business hours.

Third, move valuables away from the water if you can do so safely. Electronics, family photos, anything irreplaceable should be elevated or relocated.

Our Emergency Response

When you call Plumb Zebra for an emergency, our technicians arrive promptly. The first thing we do is shut off the water supply to prevent further damage. Then we assess the extent of the issue, identify the exact location of the break, and develop a plan to fix it.

We come equipped with the tools and the expertise to handle burst pipes in all kinds of settings, from older basements with copper lines to newer construction with PEX piping. Our goal is to restore your plumbing to full function with as little downtime as possible.

Lasting Solutions, Not Quick Patches

Some companies will slap on a temporary fix and call it a day. That is not how we work. We believe in lasting solutions. When we repair a burst pipe, we make sure the fix will hold through the next cold snap and the one after that.

We also take the time to inspect surrounding pipes. If one section failed, others in the same area may be at risk. Catching those problems early can save you from a repeat emergency down the road.

What We Ask of You

We ask one thing of every homeowner reading this: find your main water shut off valve today. Walk down to the basement, look on the wall closest to the street, and locate that valve. Test it. Make sure it turns. Because on the night a pipe bursts, those 30 seconds of preparation could save your home.

Plumb Zebra is here for the families of Spokane, Coeur d'Alene, and every community in between. Call (509) 317-9009 anytime, day or night.