Running water in every apartment - no longer a luxury, and we take for granted, that the system should be operational. Yes, periodically there are minor damage - for example, the mixer will start to drip, or flush the toilet leak. But what if the problem gets larger scale - a serious burst pipe?
Burst watermain can happen not only in the street (where the accident, by the way, are mostly underground, so find it quickly Only members of the service organizations), but also directly in house. In this case, the main thing - do not panic and promptly take all the necessary measures.
Burst pipe: where to go and how to fix a leak
where to go
Where should urgently call if the house burst water pipe?
When the water is really a big breakthrough, and their own repair is not possible due to lack of time, skills, and / or special materials, you can call the representatives of plumbing services. And the choice of the organization depends on the day of the week and time of day.
Working hours weekday? Then you should call the VES (Housing-operational service). Its number should be in the information table in the hallway or on the website of the managing organization.
water breakthrough occurred late at night or in one of the weekends / holidays? Avariyschikov should call (emergency service water utility units designated for the area).
It is best to know in advance VES phones and emergency service and bring them into your phonebook.
What should you do if a pipe burst in the building
If the room is at the time of the accident tap a few people, it is recommended immediately assign responsibilities: one is calling plumbers, and the other at this time trying to eliminate the cause and consequences of the accident.
- The first thing you want to substitute a jet of any container to prevent water from pouring onto the floor. It may be a bucket, bowl, pan - anything that will contain a sufficiently large amount of liquid at a time to eliminate the trouble. Periodically, it is necessary to empty the tank;
- Hereinafter - all the way to block the water supply valve. It is either in an apartment near the water counters, or in the basement of the house (in this case, need the keys to the basement). It must be remembered that, if cut off valve in the basement, access to water will be deprived of all who live in the stairwell;
- Make sure the water ceased to flow, it is necessary as soon as possible to collect it from the floor. For this purpose, any suitable means: doormat, sponge, etc...
Better to make a duplicate key to the cellar at home, so you do not waste the already precious time to search for them.
Now you need to seal the leak. To this end, the following tools will be needed:
- a piece of rubber (from camera bicycle segment home cleaning glove) or other similar material, is not leaky and stretchability;
- two screw (worm) or a wire clamp;
- thick fabric strip or sheet of sheet metal (e.g., cut from cans of beer);
- wrench or screwdriver to clamp.
It is advisable to always have a home a few clamps. They are very inexpensive, but their application will help you save a lot of money.
The action plan is as follows:
- Wound on a leaking place rubber or other similar material as tightly as possible. With tension and, preferably, in multiple layers;
- All the way to fix the winding clamps or wire;
- Wrap design prepared beforehand with a cloth or strip of sheet metal and fastened. In the case of sheet metal edge strips to be connected by a pair of screws or screws suitable to them and the size of the nuts;
- For additional proofing is recommended to use a tape or food film.
Replacement of these materials can serve as an epoxy resin and an ordinary medical bandage (or other tissue). The resin simply mix as directed on the package, and soaked in a mixture bandage. After this broad overlaps bandage wrap around leakage space as large as possible number of turns and cause the resin from above. Repeat several times.
Also directly on the leakage place can impose a special material called "cold welding". It can even be used in water - but you need to be extremely careful if it is hot water: get burned in this case - it is a couple of seconds.
This "first aid" help hold the pipe before the arrival of professional plumbers. Although it happens that these temporary measures do not help on the day and not two, but for a few months.
expert opinion
Nicholas, municipal officer:
"Not all homes have a stock of clamps. In principle, a temporary patch you can use any constricting material: you can apply clothesline, wire and even routine medical tourniquet. Someone uses a cloth and adhesive tapes. But duct tape to hold on tight, you need to carefully degrease the surface - for example, petrol or acetone. Stop the leak? It remains to call and wait for the arrival plumbing. "
Who is responsible for the accident
This is the question - who is to blame, who should repair the communications thoroughly and to compensate any damage from leaks - rises sharply immediately after the relief of the accident.
The private cottages all internal communication - clear area of interest and responsibility of the home owner. As for the pipes in the area and outside it, are responsible for their maintenance and repairs usually prescribed in the contract with the owner of the network (for example, urban water channels or specialized a private company).
But what if the burst pipe in a city apartment?
There are two options:
- If there was a breakthrough pipes on a riser in the interval from him before the first crane in an apartment, you should contact the management company home. Obschedomovoe estate - it is their area of responsibility and their duty will be to eliminate the break and its aftermath;
- In other cases, bears full responsibility owner of the apartment. Therefore it is necessary to seriously approach to preventive maintenance of pipes.
If it so happened that a water pipe burst and flooded neighbors, will need to establish the value of the damage. There are several ways to do this:
- Along with the victims to calculate the market value of damaged items and by mutual agreement of the parties to pay that amount. Be sure to make the act, which equals the amount of the damage or the method for establishing its amount. After agreeing on figures made an application to the act, which states that both sides agree on the amount. If at the time of application to the entire amount paid by the act, there can be pointed out that the money is transferred to the victim and the parties no longer have claims against each other. Or have to require a receipt from a neighbor that he had received money on account of compensation;
- Together with the party affected by the flooding can determine the right materials and the number of self-purchase, repair, restoration and replacement of lost and damage in case of flooding apartment things.
If find a common language with our neighbors is not possible, the amount of damage can be determined by one of the following ways:
- Hire an independent expert. On payment of its services will need to negotiate with the affected either both parties "thrown off", or pays only one of them. If someone does not agree with the expert's assessment, it is possible to hire another; otherwise it will have to apply to the court;
- To go to court. If neighbors can not reach a consensus on the amount of damage, it is necessary the opinion of independent parties. It is necessary to prepare all kinds of proof: it can be photos of apartments, testimony, compiled act, other available documents - everything that will help the court as completely as possible to assess the losses from flooding.
expert advice
Vitaly, a lawyer:
"In drawing up the act necessarily need to call the representatives of the operational organization. They are required to attend. If you do not go, it is necessary to write a telegram form, please indicate when and where to come for the preparation of the report on the fact of breaking water pipes (hot or cold). By the time of preparation of the report should bring a pair of witnesses (as such can speak and representatives of the injured party). The instrument should specify the time and place of the accident, a description of the pipe and damage (peeling ceiling paint, damaged wallpaper in the area of so many square meters, and so on. N.). After replacing the damaged pipe dismantled portion is required to preserve. If flooded neighbors and we have to go to court, then this piece of the pipe may be necessary to establish the cause of the accident. "
Care must be taken that in the photo / video, if possible, have the following information:
- The correct time and date. If it's pictures, these data should be displayed on each of them;
- It would be superfluous, the location information. Modern devices have a function of determining the geolocation - it is possible to use it;
- If this video, you need to turn on the microphone and comment on everything that is happening in the frame;
- You should definitely stay in general;
- Closeup has taken specific damage: wet wallpaper, flooring swollen, the flooded technique;
- Certainly need to capture the breakthrough himself pipe close-up and with the rest of the bathroom.
Prevention of occurrence of breakthrough water supply
If you want to avoid wasting money, time and effort to eliminate the effects of water accidents, to be most effective - to prevent its appearance. For this you should promptly check the status of water pipes in the house.
What you should definitely pay attention to?
- Rust. This is perhaps the most important cause of the cracks in the water systems. If the pipe showed streaks brown, peeling paint - it is understood that corrosion set to work, and sooner or later will bring trouble. And just paint is unlikely to help - has already begun;
- Gradual depressurization. Sometimes the joints between the duct portions seal tightly enough to each other. If you notice that in these places accumulate moisture, visible bruises, there is a loss of containment;
- Water hammer - jump water pressure in the tubes. This can happen both through the fault of public utilities, due to improper maintenance of the pipeline and the fault customer service - because of illegal, is not compatible with utilities system changes water supply.
The best way to prevent a serious accident will not be independent attempts to eliminate the small flow path splinting or cold welding, and appeal to the professionals. Replacement of pipes to break them much more efficient and advantageous than thereafter.
EXAMPLE eliminate leaks in the pipe:
