This article provides in-depth advice about how to: Clean Up A Home Flood Caused By A Burst Water Pipe.  This advice is for “CLEAN WATER” Flood Clean-Up.  We have a separate article for “DIRTY WATER” Flood Clean-Up — due to a Weather-Event.  Al’s Plumbing, Heating & A/C in Plano, Texas provides maintenance & repairs for all brands of Central A/C, Gas & Electric Furnace, and Heat Pumps.    Additionally, we sell and install new HVAC Systems from American Standard (same company as Trane), Ameristar (same company as American Standard) and Coleman HVAC (same company as York HVAC).

Al’s also provides full-service plumbing maintenance, repairs and replacements for every plumbing component in your home.  Al’s sells and installs Rheem Professional Series gas & electric water heaters, and tankless water heaters.  Al’s is near your home in Plano, TX; Allen, TX; and Frisco, TX.  We service all homes in southern Collin and Denton Counties with no additional travel charge.

Call Al’s today to discuss any concerns or problems you have with your HVAC System or Plumbing.  We’ll arrange an appointment at your convenience.

NOTE: Al’s Plumbing, Heating & A/C in Plano, TX Does Not Provide Flood-Damage Cleanup Services.   

This in-depth article is provided as a service to those needing to do Burst Water Pipe Flood Clean Up themselves. 

Are You Looking For WEATHER-EVENT Flood Clean Up Advice? 

Click Here: AlsPlumbing.com WEATHER-EVENT Flood Clean-Up (Part 1 Of 2)

Are You Looking For How To HELP PREVENT BURST WATER PIPES (due to freezing)?

Click Here: AlsPlumbing.com Help Prevent Frozen & Burst Water Pipes

Burst Water Pipe Flood — Clean Up Yourself 

Image Source: Shutterstock

NOTE: Burst Water Pipe Flood Damage IS Typically Covered By A Standard Homeowners Insurance Policy.

NOTE: File A Claim With Your Homeowners Insurance — And Ask If They Pay For Flood Clean Up.

First — Let’s Discuss Safety Precautions

Image Source: Shutterstock

SHOWN: GFI Outlet

Many Home Components Are Typically Damaged By Water

Furnace & (electric) Water Heater

Appliances

Image Source: ShutterStock

• It’s unlikely that flooded electric appliances are safe to use — if they work at all.
• Appliances’ circuits can be shorted out during floods.  If they’re tripping circuit-breakers — have them checked by a professional.
• Gas appliances (range, cooktop, wall oven) are likely ok.

If Water Was Not More Than 2 Inches Deep:

• The; dishwasher, range, washer & dryer may be ok.   Wearing rubber gloves & boots — turn them on to see if they work.  If wet, they will trip the GFI Outlet or the Circuit-Breaker.  This is an indicator that they are not salvageable.

• The refrigerator may be wet — since its compressor and coil with fan are at the bottom.  Wearing rubber gloves & boots  — turn it on to see if it works.  If the GFI or circuit-breaker trips — it’s wet and likely ruined.

Burst Water Pipe Flood Clean Up — Drywall or Plastered Walls

Shown: Molded Drywall & Wood Wall Studs (shown from inside a wall)

Image Source: ShutterStock

Drywall Removal:

• Drywall begins to mold within 48 hours.

• If not removed — drywall will remain contaminated after drying.

• Cleaning the surface isn’t enough — as mold also grows on the backside of the drywall.

• To remove water-damaged drywall — score it with a utility-knife (the video below shows a utility knife).

• Then you can likely push on the (wet) drywall — and it will easily break and become removable.

• Put the wet drywall in “Contractor-Size” trash bags — and set the bags at the curb for pick up.

• Wet drywall must be removed at 12″ above the highest water level.  This is because drywall acts like a sponge — and wicks water upward from the flood level.

NOTE:

• Drywall that’s visibly dry — may have gotten wet behind the wood trim at the floors. 

• Remove a piece of trim and push on the drywall with a screwdriver.   If it goes into the drywall with very little force — the drywall is wet and must be removed to 12″ above the floor.

• If the trim at the floors is solid wood, wash it and set it aside to dry.  It is likely reusable.

• If the trim at the floors is made of any type of pressed wood — it’s likely ruined.  If it looks swelled, buckled, or a screwdriver pushes into it easily — remove and discard it.

Insulation Inside The Walls:

• Fiberglass &  Cellulose insulation (made of recycled paper) must be removed and replaced.

• Foam insulation can be washed clean.

• Remove insulation to the same height as the removed drywall.

Lumber Inside The Walls:

• You don’t need to remove lumber inside the wall. 

• Lumber can be reused after it’s; cleaned and dried.  In the case of a “clean water” flood — the lumber may need nothing other than ample time to dry.

• Don’t add new drywall until the lumber inside the wall is at 20% moisture or less. **  

• If you add drywall before the lumber is dry — the new drywall mold.

• Adding fans and dehumidifiers will speed the drying process.  Run them 24/7.

• A wood moisture-meter will let you know when you can begin restoration with new drywall. 

** Source: https://www.extension.iastate.edu/news/2008/jul/120901.htm#:~:text=Let%20the%20Wood%20Dry,won’t%20get%20mildew%20growth.

Image Source: YouTube Embedded Video

Here’s An Example Of Drywall & Insulation Removal After A Flood

Drywall or Plastered Ceilings

• If you have burst water pipe(s) in a two-story home, or a one-level home with water pipes in the attic — you will see wet or brown spots in your ceilings.

• If this has occurred — the drywall must be removed at the spot, and 12″ in each direction from the spot.

• You don’t need the replace the entire ceiling — only where it was wet.

NOTE: If you have “popcorn” ceilings — a contractor can add new texture to repaired spaces with little to no evidence the work had been performed.

Image Source: YouTube Embedded Video

This YouTube video demonstrates how to replace a section of drywall in the ceiling.

Burst Water Pipe Flood Clean Up — Concrete Sub-Floors

• Concrete sub-floors are ok once they are dried out.

• During the original concrete drying process — moisture created pathways inside the concrete (called capillaries).

• Excess moisture inside the concrete moves through these pathways to release the moisture.

• Since most concrete floors have a vapor-retarder below — moisture must move upwards to escape

• After a flood — the drying process can take months.

Note: If you put new floor coverings over concrete that’s still too moist — the new flooring will become damaged from moisture that’s still moving upward from the concrete.

Maximum Concrete Moisture Level Testing — Prior To Installing New Solid-Surface Floor Coverings:

• The Calcium Chloride Test, for measuring vapor-emissions from concrete, has been in use since the 1940s.

• This test provides an accurate estimate of moisture being released — per 1,000 square feet of concrete slab — over a 24-hour period.

• The results are expressed as pounds of moisture.  Water weighs 8.3 pounds per gallon.

• For this test — “pounds” is the weight of the water that evaporates out of a 1,000 sq. ft. surface area of concrete during 24 hours.

• Before new flooring can be installed — the amount of moisture emission must not exceed 3 pounds (of water) per 1000 sq. ft. per 24 hours.

• For a more detailed explanation — see link just below. **

• Lastly, check the flooring manufacturer’s specs to find the acceptable moisture-level for the specific floor covering you’re installing.

** Source: https://www.moisturemeters.com/why-flooring-professionals-must-always-test-for-excessive-moisture-and-alkalinity/

*** Souce: https://www.concretenetwork.com/curing-concrete/

*** Source: https://www.dcpu1.com/blog/how-long-does-concrete-take-to-dry/

** Source: https://www.concretemoisture.com/installers/8-truths-about-concrete-moisture/

If You Have Carpet — With A “CLEAN WATER” Flood

TIP: Before doing all this work — check with your Homeowners Insurance to see if they cover burst water pipe flood damage.  If they do, they will pay for new carpet and pad.

IF Your HO Insurance Doesn’t Cover Burst Water Pipe Flood Damage:

• It’s likely possible to reuse the carpet (not the pad).  This depends on how OLD & HOW Clean was before the flood.  It the carpet needed to be replaced before the flood — don’t waste all the effort to salvage it.

Note:  In the pad — dust, pet dander, and other particulates have accumulated.  With these particulates present — you can’t get the pad dry enough to ensure that mold won’t grow.

• Rent a “Rug Doctor” (or any brand of rental “Hot Water Extraction” carpet cleaning machine).

• Don’t add water to the machine — its only purpose (after a flood) is to extract water.

• Run the machine VERY SLOWLY — North to South -THEN- East to West.

• If you can add weight to the top of the machine — it will be more effective (though harder to push).

• Once you have performed these steps —  remove the carpet, take it to a dry space, and unroll it to finish drying.

• Then remove and discard the pad.

Burst Water Pipe Flood Clean Up — Wood Sub-Floors

• Perform the steps above to salvage the carpet.

• Remove and discard the pad.  This allows the wood sub-floor to dry more quickly and thoroughly.

• Wood sub-floor surface-materials (plywood, particle-board, and Oriented Strand-Bboard (OSB) — often soak up water and self-destruct.

Click Here To See Water-Damaged Particle-Board Sub-Floor: Water-Damaged Particle Board

Click Here To See Water-Damaged OSB Sub-Floor: Water Damaged Oriented Strand Board (OSB)

Click Here To See Water-Damage Plywood: Water Damaged Plywood

• If sub-floors look; swelled up, warped, or buckled — they must be replaced.   This refers to the surface-material — not the framing lumber it’s nailed to.  Framing lumber can be cleaned and refused.

Wood Sub-Floors’ Moisture Must Be 15% Or Less — Before Installing Hard-Surface Floor Coverings. Hard-Surface flooring is anything other than carpet. 

• Check the flooring manufacturer’s specs to find the acceptable moisture-level for a specific floor covering.

• Your Wood Moisture-Meter will advise when restoration can begin.

FLOOR-COVERING REMOVAL SAFETY NOTES:

If Your Home Was Built Before 1980:

• It may have Asbestos in hard-surface floor coverings. **

• You should assume that rigid floor tiles measuring 8”x 8” or 9”x 9” and in a home built before 1980 contain asbestos.

• If any asbestos floor tile is; missing, broken, chipped, crumbling, appears to have been sanded, or has any other visible evidence it’s damaged or altered — Leave Them Alone.

• When it doubt — leave these tiles alone.  If they contain asbestos — they must be removed by professionals.  **

Copy The Link Below Into Your Browser To See Several Photos Of Floor Tiles That Contain Asbestos:

https://www.google.com/search?q=asbestos+floor+tiles&sxsrf=ALeKk00uaiyZm9tz2OXr3anYa-X-Oo2NpA:1615824130318&source=lnms&tbm=isch&biw=1097&bih=554#imgrc=D4-nWaS7UVZcOM

Copy This Link Into Your Browser For Details On Where Your Home May Have Additional Building Materials Containing Asbestos: https://scotthomeinspection.com/types-of-asbestos/

** Source: https://www.asbestos.com/products/vinyl-products/#:~:text=Today%2C%20the%20use%20of%20asbestos,asbestos%20vinyl%20flooring%20and%20wallpaper.

Burst Water Pipe Flood Clean Up — Laminated Wood Flooring (& Furnishings): 

• These materials typically soak up water and self-destruct.
• If a wood floor covering looks swelled up, or its shape is distorted — it must be replaced.  This refers to the wood floor-covering material. 
• Sub-floor material moisture must be at 15% or lower before beginning restoration.
• This applies to both home-building materials and laminated furniture.
• Lastly, check the manufacturer’s moisture-level specifications for the specific floor covering you’re installing.

Click Here To See Water-Damaged Laminate Wood Flooring: Water Damaged Laminate Flooring

Burst Water Pipe Flood Clean Up — Hardwood Flooring (& Furnishings): 

• When hardwood flooring is soaked with water, it swells up.
• After swelling hardwood floors typically buckle.
• If buckled, hardwood flooring must be replaced.
• Sub-floor material moisture must be at 15% or lower before beginning restoration.
• Framing lumber can be cleaned and reused.
• This applies to both home-building materials and solid wood furniture.

Click Here To See Water-Damaged Hardwood Flooring: Water Damaged Hardwood Flooring

This article provided in-depth advice about how to clean up a Home Flood Caused By A Burst Water Pipe.  This advice is for “Clean Water Flood” Clean-Up.  We have a separate article for “Dirty Water Flood” — due to a Weather-Event.   Al’s Plumbing, Heating & A/C in Plano, Texas provides maintenance & repairs for all brands of Central A/C, Gas & Electric Furnace, and Heat Pumps.    Additionally, we sell and install new HVAC Systems from American Standard (same company as Trane), Ameristar (same company as American Standard) and Coleman HVAC (same company as York HVAC).

Al’s also provides full-service plumbing maintenance, repairs and replacements for every plumbing component in your home.  Al’s sells and installs Rheem Professional Series gas & electric water heaters, and tankless water heaters.  Al’s is near your home in Plano, TX; Allen, TX; and Frisco, TX.  We service all homes in southern Collin and Denton Counties with no additional travel charge.

Call Al’s today to discuss any concerns or problems you have with your HVAC System or Plumbing.  We’ll arrange an appointment at your convenience.