The sound of dripping water wakes you up during the late hours of the night, 'tap' 'tap' 'tap,' the speed of the dripping water seems to intensify as you go in and out of subconsciousness until you jolt out of bed upon hearing a sudden noise of water spraying everywhere. As you come out of your room to inspect the issue, you are confronted by a burst pipe. You call an emergency plumbing service that promises to immediately send an experienced plumber to your doorstep. However, you must wait a few minutes or even an hour until the plumber arrives. What are you supposed to do in the meantime?

Read on to find out.

How to Handle a Leaking Pipe Until the Plumbers Arrive

Instead of panicking, the best way to deal with a leaking pipe is to take a few important measures. These measures will allow you to minimize the damage it causes to your home until the plumbers arrive. Below is a step-by-step guide you can follow to handle a leaking pipe until help shows up:

Step 1: Shut Off Your Water Supply

When you notice a leaking pipe, the first and most important step is to turn off your home's water supply immediately. Every home has a designated valve, mostly located near where the main water line enters the property or near the water meter. Turning off this valve will allow you to shut down the water supply within your home and prevent more water from flowing into your pipe and leaking out of the damaged location.

Some homeowners may not be aware of the location of this pipe. This can make it difficult to tackle such emergencies promptly. Hence, expert plumbers advise homeowners to understand the workings of their plumbing system and familiarize themselves with important valves or control systems. This knowledge will empower homeowners to remain calm during plumbing emergencies and be well-versed in handling the issue until help arrives.

Step 2: Turn on the Faucets Connected to the Pipe

After turning off the water supply to your home, the next step is to find the leak's location. Although shutting off the main valve will allow you to reduce the water flow into the pipe, it might take a few minutes to stop leaking completely. Hence, you need to locate which pipe is leaking and determine what faucets the pipe is connected to.

Next, turn on those faucets to help drain the water. This should help you reduce the intensity of the water leaking from the pipe and accelerate the process of the pipe running out of water. Furthermore, ensure your drains are clean and open to ensure water flows out through them and prevent the water from standing on your flooring. Standing water can significantly damage your flooring, walls, and furniture.

Step 3: Place a Bucket beneath the Dripping Water

If your leaking pipe is located on an elevated surface, a great way to keep the water from dripping on your flooring is to place a bucket beneath it. This simple step will allow you to reduce water damage to your indoor space. Keep an eye out for the bucket and empty it as it fills to prevent it from overflowing.

Step 4: Fix the Leak with Plumber's Epoxy

If you have plumber's epoxy, it can be a promising ingredient for a DIY leak fix. To fix the leak with plumber's epoxy, you need to cut off the water supply to the pipe and wipe the surroundings of the area of the leak dry. Mix the epoxy well and fill the crack or hole with it. Wrapping the pipe with plumbers' tape after this step can help you conduct a reliable DIY pipe leak repair that may last a few hours or even days until you can get plumbers over to your home.

The epoxy will take at least 24 hours to cure. Hence, you must leave the water supply off until that time. Refrain from considering this DIY a permanent fix since the epoxy lasts only a few days. Instead, call a licensed and reputed plumbing service provider to repair or replace your pipe.

Step 5: Fix the Leak with a Pipe Wrap

For instance, you don't have access to emergency plumbers and have a flight to catch in the morning. How should you fix your leaking pipe temporarily until you return home and can get it professionally fixed? A pipe wrap is an ideal solution for this situation. Pipe wraps usually take the form of fiberglass tape that you can tightly wrap around the leaking area of a pipe. This material is highly durable and can withstand water flowing within a pipe. It is also incredibly convenient to use.

All you have to do is wipe the surface of the pipe and wrap the tape tightly around the leak. Now run your water supply and test the efficiency of the pipe wrap. Once you apply the wrap to your pipe undergoes a chemical reaction that enables it to harden and shrink. This helps the tape wrap tightly around the leak area and prevents it from further damage or water loss. This solution can last you a few days and even weeks.

Call the Top Emergency Plumbing Service Now

If you live in the Arizona area and are faced with a pipe leak, we recommend calling the expert plumbers at the Mesa Plumbing Company. We serve a wide range of Arizona cities, including Apache Junction, Chandler, Fountain Hills, Mesa, Queen Creek, Tempe, San Tan Valley, Sun Lakes, etc, and are available 24/7.

At MPC, we offer high-quality plumbing services at low prices. Our plumbers are well-trained and experienced and will use their expertise to diagnose your plumbing issues and offer a remedy. We also offer financing to reduce the financial burden of sudden plumbing repairs off your shoulders. Those interested in our services can dial (480) 832-1660 to schedule a visit with our expert plumbers.