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February

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By Mike Porco / in burst pipe, water damage /

Whether you rent an apartment or own one, nothing can prepare you for the utter heartbreak of coming home to soggy flooring and furniture. The worst has happened – a pipe has burst in your apartment – and you’re not sure what to do. 

Fortunately, if you find yourself in this very predicament, we’ve got some helpful information on what happens next. 

What Causes Pipes To Burst in Apartment Complexes?

Because you’re probably not expecting a pipe to burst in your apartment, you may have no idea what causes them to burst in the first place.

Surely, it’s a random and rare event? Surprisingly, it’s more common than you might think – not that it makes you feel any better when it happens to you. 

Some of the most common causes of water pipes bursting are:

– Broken fire sprinklers

– Faulty air conditioner lines

– Water heating system links

– Clogged or blocked drainage 

What Do You Do If A Water Pipe Bursts In Your Apartment?

No one expects to find themselves with a burst water pipe. However, if the worst should happen, it helps if you know what to do and what to look for. 

While you might have images of an entirely flooded apartment after a pipe burst, that’s not always the case. Sometimes, a burst pipe can appear as a slow leak behind a wall that’s barely noticeable until it starts causing damage.

Whether the damage is severe or not, the following steps can be worth following if you find yourself in this predicament. 

Step 1: Identify The Leak Source

Given how many appliances and water fixtures the average apartment or home has, it’s not always easy to know right away where the water is coming from. Start looking around and see if you can discover it.

Check under sinks, behind appliances, and look at ceilings if you have a multi-story home. If you notice that water is pooling from a particular part of the ceiling, take note of its location as you walk upstairs to investigate. You can then turn off the water supply valve while you make your plan of attack.

Step 2: Notify Neighbors and the Landlord

Apartment living can be incredibly convenient, but only when a pipe hasn’t burst in your apartment. Sometimes, your burst pipe can affect your neighbors. If that’s the case, contact each of the neighbors affected to alert them to the problem.

If you rent your apartment, contact your landlord right away.

You can then ask for an ETA on having someone come out to fix the pipe and repair the damage. However, if you’re the homeowner, it’s up to you to phone a water damage company or plumber who can manage both the problem and subsequent damage.

Step 3: Collect Your Belongings

Depending on the scale of the damage, you may need to remove all your possessions from the apartment and put them into storage while the plumbing is fixed and your apartment is repaired.

In the meantime, make sure all electronics are away from the water and put anything porous like soft furnishings and clothing into plastic containers or bags.

Step 4: Take Note Of The Damage

As shocked as you might be to come home and find your apartment dripping wet, it’s essential to keep a clear head. Take photos and video footage with timestamps of all areas of your home affected by the water.

Be sure to capture footage of damaged walls, ceilings, and flooring, not to mention soggy furniture and possessions that may need to be replaced. Keep all your evidence in one place, so it’s easy to find should you need to make an insurance claim.

Step 5: Contact The Landlord (again)

If you rent your apartment and your landlord handled the repair process, follow up with them to find out what caused the damage in the first place.

Finding out as much as possible may help you when you’re establishing who is responsible for the damage to your possessions. If repairs have to take place in the apartment, ask for a timeframe so you can plan your life around them.

Step 6: Get In Touch With A Water Damage Restoration Company

After a pipe bursts in your apartment, there’s bound to be a lot of damage. However, alongside wet clothing and damaged electronics, there’s also the genuine risk of mold.

For repairing broken pipes, the cleanup process, mold remediation, and property restoration, it’s a good idea to contact an expert in water damage restoration.

Not only can they restore your apartment to its former glory, but they can also assist you and/or your landlord with any insurance claims. Once you’ve made plans with a water damage restoration team, consider relocating, if possible, until the restoration process is complete. 

Tenant Vs. Landlord – Who Is Responsible For A Pipe Bursting In An Apartment?

Image: Pixabay

Even though your landlord owns your apartment and all the plumbing and fixtures within it, it can be hard to know who pays for the cleaning, repairs, and damages when any of those components fail. 

It is your landlord’s responsibility to ensure your apartment remains in good shape. Therefore, your landlord is your first port of call to take care of water damage or burst pipes, should they happen.

In saying that, if your negligence resulted in a burst pipe, you might be responsible for any water damage costs. 

If you’re unsure about your rights or responsibilities as a tenant, refer to your lease. You may also be able to source information from your city or state’s housing department. 

Renters Insurance

Regardless of who’s at fault when a pipe bursts in your apartment, it can be worth investing in renters insurance.

Such insurance can cover you for property damage and damage to your personal belongings. Some policies also cover damage to other apartments caused by a pipe burst in your apartment. 

What Now?

You’ve come home to a burst pipe, apartment damage, and personal possession damage. Now’s the time to contact your landlord to arrange a water damage restoration team to take control of the situation.

You can then leave it in their capable hands to ensure your apartment is back in action as fast as possible.

If you have any questions about what to do when a pipe bursts in your apartment feel free to call us at 1-833-WE-DRY-IT or chat with us in near real-time on our Facebook fan page.