Shut off first
- In most Richmond Hill homes the main valve sits on the street-side basement wall, where the supply pipe pushes through the foundation next to the meter. It may be a round gate valve or a lever ball valve. Turn it clockwise or a quarter turn so the lever lies across the pipe. If it will not move, tell us when you call.
- Next open the lowest faucet you have to let pressure off, and turn off the water heater when the split is on a hot line. Get valuables out of the wet and photograph everything for the insurance adjuster.
The repair
- We cut out the split section well past any bulge, since frozen copper often swells for a foot or more beyond the visible crack. The repair uses new copper with soldered or press fittings, or PEX with crimp or expansion fittings, matched to what is already in the house.
- Where the burst was inside a finished wall, we open just enough to reach the pipe and leave the opening clean for drywall repair. If the pipe ran in an exterior wall or over a garage, we talk about rerouting it to a warmer path.
Signs you need this
- Water jetting or pouring out of a wall or ceiling
- Pressure suddenly collapsing at every tap
- A bulge or crack on a frozen pipe
- Ice on a pipe near an outside wall
- Water dripping from a ceiling light fixture
Why it happened
- Most bursts in Richmond Hill happen in cold snaps, in pipes running along outside walls, in crawlspaces, or near hose bibs that were not drained. Others are old pipe failing from pinhole corrosion, or high water pressure stressing fittings. Once the water is back on, we check pressure and look at nearby pipes for the same risk.
- Insulation, heat tape in the right places, and frost-free hose bibs prevent most freeze bursts. We note what we see so you can plan before next winter.
How the job runs
- 1
You close the main and run the lowest tap in the house.
- 2
We cut out the damaged section past any swelling.
- 3
New pipe is installed with fittings matched to your system.
- 4
Water is restored slowly and nearby pipes are checked for risk.
Richmond Hill note: most houses here sit on York Region municipal water with fairly hard supply, and many basements have a floor drain tied to the sanitary lateral. Mention both on the phone; it changes what goes on the truck.
Want a second opinion on your own pipes first? Dial (365) 363-1575; the person answering holds the wrench.