My water pipes just burst

dammitjanet

I'm taking a chance that maybe someone is online at this hour!!

I'm renting a 1 story house and it's water tank is outside and the pipes have been exposed to the freezing temperatures in the last two weeks. They've just burst and water is spraying out full force in 2 directions. Called the landlord and nothing can be done til the morning.
The water is right outside my back door (I can't get out the door because there is a waterfall blocking my path) and I'm worried about the house flooding.

I'm busy picking up stuff off the ground macking sure things are safe from water damage but is there any temperary solutions anyone can offer me??? Anything to slow down the water?

LookBehindYou

Track where the inlet pipe comes from to the tank.
There has to be a shutoff valve.

Is the leak on the inlet or outlet ?
If on outlet, tie up the ballcock in the tank.

Buford T Justice

Under the sink you should have a mains shut off valve to stop the water going to the tank. Failing that, get a stick and a shoelace or something similar and tie up the ballcock to stop the water filling the tank.

Once you get that done, let the water run out and thats all you can do...

dammitjanet

Thank you!! I turned off the valve anyway but water is still running. I don't understand the inlet, outlet thing though- and the tank is on my roof so I can't get to it

Axwell

The inlet outlet thing is basically water going in to the tank (the mains valve under the sink you turned off) and then the water from the tank going to the pipes around the house.

If you have turned off the valve then the the tank will stop filling and you just have to wait for whatever is in it at the minute to empty out of it.

If the outlet pipe isnt burst you could also run the cold taps to speed up the process of emptying the tank.

LookBehindYou

The inlet pipe fills the tank, its at the top and feeds through a ballcock valve.

The outlet pipe feed the water to your taps.

Maybe the ballcock is frozen below the full mark, and will not come up to shut the water off.

dammitjanet

Brilliant, thanks a million!!!
Hopefully it'll drain soon either way i think i'll have to block the bottom of the back door with towels just in case

dammitjanet

Hi, well the water never stopped- landlord finally came down with a key to turn off the water from the mains :rolleyes:
But now I've no water, no heat, and she says she can't get through to a plummer to come down and repair the pipe.

Don't suppose anyone here knows any plummer in the Bray area who could come out and get me up and running again asap so I don't freeze tonight!

meemeep

Sorry for your trouble - awful! Try here for a plumber:

http://www.tradesmen.ie/

Buford T Justice

It must be the rising main that's burst so, or something like that.