Burst pipe under kitchen sink
Burst Pipe Under the Kitchen Sink
What to do if you have a burst pipe under the kitchen sink.
A burst pipe under the kitchen sink is an emergency & if you’re reading this, you probably just want me to cut to the chase & quickly tell you what to do.
1) If the burst pipe is cold water pipe then you need to Turn off the water at the water mains. If you live in a house, then your water meter is most likely out at the street. If you live in a unit or town house, it may be closer to the entry of your home, or in a cupboard.
If you live in a house, here is a LINK with a video to show you ‘How to turn off your water main’
If you live in a unit or townhouse, this is your link ‘How to turn off a water meter to a unit’
If you cannot locate your water main shut off valve, then give our emergency plumber a call, he may be able to give you some advice over the phone to locate your water mains shut off. 0447 671 095
2) If the burst pipe is HOT – then this may be easier for you to do – And allows you to still have cold water to the fixtures like toilets, showers & taps.
Locate your hot water system & turn off the isolation valve/tap to the hot water system. This is the tap or valve that supplies the cold water into the hot water system. If you have a storage hot water heater, then by turning off the inlet cold water supply to the hot water tank, stops the water pressure & NO hot water should come out of the burst pipe or hot water taps throughout the home.
If the isolation valve / tap cannot be located or if it is seized, then you will have to turn off the water at your water meter as per step 1 to stop the burst pipe flooding the home.
Here is a LINK with a video to show you ‘How to turn off the water to your electric hot water heater’
3) Is the burst pipe under your kitchen sink made from a metal braid or a solid copper or brass pipe?
If it is braid my be integral to your tap ware, especially if it is a mixer style tap & may not be able to be removed separately without also replacing the mixer tap.
4) It’s at this time we recommend you call your emergency plumber as depending on the brand & age of this tap, you may need special tools to remove & tighten the mixer tap. It is often the case that the old tap ware bracket may also be rusted & seized, making it difficult to remove.
5) If there is water damage due to the burst pipe, then your insurance company may ask you for the plumbers invoice & report detailing the problem & replacement of the burst pipe, ensuring that the burst pipe repair has been done correctly & by a licenced plumber.
6) If you’re going to attempt to replace this burst pipe under the kitchen sink yourself then we recommend you inspect the condition of both the hot & cold-water pipes or braids, check if they are crimped or a thread connection to the tap ware. Check the condition of the tap threads, body, handle, spout & bridging. If you have a mixer tap, inspect the condition of the mixer tap connection bracket under the cupboard. The last thing you want is the inconvenience & expense of another burst pipe under the kitchen sink.
- Once you have decided on the condition of the above - you can
a) Call your emergency plumber.
b) Replace the burst pipe or both the hot & cold pipes at this time.
c) Replace the complete mixer tap with both water services
If your re installing a mixer type tap, we strongly recommend you invest in a quality mixer tap & not be tempted to purchase one of the cheap mixer taps that are on ‘sale’ at your local chain hardware. Buy as good a quality that your budget will allow.
Mixer taps may look to same on the outside, but the quality of the internal working mechanisms is very different. You don’t want another burst pipe or leaking mixer tap in the near future.
Guarantees are also very different; we recommend you read the fine print from brand to brand.
An example would be ‘10 Year Warranty’.
Read carefully as the warranty may mean that you need a plumber to disconnect the tap under warranty & take it into the hardware for replacement / repairs. They may also require a receipt to show that a plumber installed it originally for you.
While another brand may be $50 extra, the warranty may provide an in home replacement service by a licenced plumber.
Also read your warranty carefully as it may not cover a burst pipe of the mixer tap, but cover the cartridge, handle & spout.
Once you have repaired your burst pipe under the kitchen sink, don’t forget to turn your water back on either at the water meter or at the hot water system.
I just want to also mention that we strongly recommend the you NOT store cleaning agents or chemicals under the kitchen sink, as these can let off toxic fumes which may contribute or accelerate the chances of another burst pipe under the kitchen sink.
Moyle Plumbing use a quality, yet not expensive braid type water services, tap ware & mixer taps to repair your burst pipe under the kitchen sink. If you would like more information on our products, services & pricing, please contact us via phone or email.
If you live on the Southside of Brisbane, Gold Coast, Logan City or Ipswich,
‘Get Moyle’s to do it’
0447 671 095
A local family owned & operated business, proudly plumbing for our local community since 1983.
More information which may help find what you repair a burst pipe.
We do not charge a call out fee, we deliver fast and affordable service, and we leave every workplace clean and tidy.
For advise or to get a quote on any plumbing needs, please call 07 3807 7327,
or send us an email: admin@moyleplumbing.com.au
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See ‘What to do when you have a burst pipe’
See ‘How to fix a leaking tap’