Did you know a burst pipe can dump 100 gallons of water into your Fort Lauderdale home in just 8 hours? That’s like filling up 1,600 water bottles all over your floors! At Plumbing Around The Clock, we’ve seen what happens when homeowners don’t know what to do in these scary situations. Just last week, we got a call from Sarah in Rio Vista – she woke up at 3 AM to the sound of water gushing from her kitchen ceiling. By the time she found her water main, her beautiful hardwood floors were already soaked.

But here’s the good news: you don’t have to panic like Sarah did. This guide will show you exactly what to do when disaster strikes, including:

• The 5-minute emergency steps that could save your home from flooding
• Simple tricks to protect your stuff while waiting for help
• How to pick the right emergency plumber (and what questions you gotta ask)

Plus, we’ll share a special hurricane season checklist that’s saved countless Fort Lauderdale homes from major water damage.

What to Do in the First 5 Minutes of a Burst Pipe

When water’s shooting everywhere, every second counts! Here’s your emergency game plan:

1. Find Your Water Main Fast
Most Fort Lauderdale homes have their water main in one of these spots:

• Near the front curb under a metal cover
• On the side of your house facing the street
• In your garage, usually on a wall
• By your water heater
  
  2. Shut Everything Down

• Turn the main valve clockwise until it stops
• Flip your water heater to “off” (this stops it from burning out)
• Turn on all your faucets to drain what’s left in the pipes
  
  3. Start Saving Your Stuff
  Grab your phone and take lots of pictures for insurance

• Move furniture, rugs, and electronics away from the water
• Put aluminum foil under furniture legs to stop water soaking up

   

How to Pick an Emergency Plumber

Finding a good emergency plumber in South Fort Lauderdale feels super stressful when water’s flooding your home. Not all plumbers are the same – some might take hours to show up, while others might charge crazy prices just because it’s 3 AM.

Here’s what you need to know before you call anyone: check if they’re licensed in Florida and ask about their response time. A real emergency plumber should get to your South Fort Lauderdale home in under an hour.

Don’t forget to ask about prices upfront. Some companies love to hit you with surprise fees just because it’s an emergency call. At Plumbing Around The Clock, we tell you exactly what it’ll cost before we start any work.

Save an emergency plumber’s number in your phone now – when you’ve got water shooting from your ceiling at 2 AM, you won’t have time to read reviews.

Signs Your Pipes Might Burst Soon

Living in South Fort Lauderdale means our pipes take a beating from the salty air and crazy weather changes. But don’t worry – pipes usually give warning signs before they burst. If you spot these signs, call a plumber fast:

Weird noises coming from your pipes? That banging sound when you turn on the water isn’t normal. It means your pipes are under too much pressure. Brown water coming out of your faucets is another red flag – it means your pipes are rusting from the inside out.

At Plumbing Around The Clock, we’ve saved thousands of Fort Lauderdale homes from floods by catching these problems early. Watch out for water pressure that suddenly drops, wet spots on your walls, or that musty smell that won’t go away. These are all signs your pipes are crying for help.

Preventing Pipe Problems During Hurricane Season

Living near the beach is amazing, but hurricane season can be rough on your plumbing. Smart homeowners in South Fort Lauderdale get their pipes ready way before the storms hit.

Here’s what you need to do to keep your pipes safe:

• Get your pipes checked every spring before storm season starts
• Fix any leaks or rusty spots right away – storms make small problems way worse
• Know exactly where your water main is (a lot of folks learn this the hard way)
• Keep sandbags ready – they can protect outdoor pipes from flood water
• Take pictures of all your plumbing now – it helps with insurance later

At Plumbing Around The Clock, we do free storm season pipe checks for our customers. Better to fix a small problem now than deal with a flooded house during a hurricane.

Don’t Wait Until Water’s Flooding Your Home

Burst pipes don’t care if it’s 3 AM or Christmas morning – they happen when you least expect them. The good news? You’ve now got a solid plan for when trouble hits.

Here’s what makes Plumbing Around The Clock different from other South Fort Lauderdale plumbers:

• We show up in under 60 minutes, 24/7
• Our prices are the same day or night (no surprise fees!)
• All our plumbers know Fort Lauderdale’s unique pipe problems
• We’re fully licensed and way over-insured for your protection
• We guarantee our work in writing

Save this number now: 954-874-5152. When water’s shooting from your ceiling, you’ll be glad you did.

Remember: In South Fort Lauderdale, you’re never more than 60 minutes away from having your pipe emergency fixed. Call us anytime – we mean it, ANY time – and we’ll get your life back to normal fast.