Facepunch, I need help , my heating pipe broke and flooded the house, being charged. - General

Well to start off, merry christmas. This morning I woke up to watch the doctor who marathon on TV in peace, and I went into my mom's room to do so (we're big fans). We were having a relaxing morning until we heard a weird sound. that sounded like a motor starting up. We were dumbfounded for a few seconds until I looked at the heating pipe that runs the wall to find it leaking VERY hot water. In the panic we grabbed all the electric appliances and ripped them from the wall. We grabbed every towel in the home and tried to plug the hole and stop the water flow. Of course, we were unsuccesful and we still had water everywhere. We called the resident manager, and had to call the emergency number, she was over in a few minutes and told use where the shut off valve was. Before she arrived I killed the power to our apartment so that the water would stop flowing. We finally got the water to stop going, but by then it was already in my room down the hall, and seeped into the carpets. It even went through the wall of the closet into my room's closet. All in all, it was a ridiculous occurrence, we had to move tons of stuff out of the room, and it's all piled into my room. Around this time, the manager asks if the window was open, and we tell her it was open for a few hours last night, but that it was closed before we went to bed. She then said that we might be facing a charge for that, and when we asked how much she told us she would get back to us. Now I'm rather angry, seeing as the window was not open when the pipe burst, and the temperature was warm for the time of the year. It seems ridiculous that for 5 months of the year when the temperature is below zero that I can't air out my apartment. Anyways, I need your help facepunch, how can I find out if the window being opened really caused the pipe burst, and if there is any legal way of getting our broken stuff replaced. I could use your help bropunch, let me know if you have any experience with this (Looking at you plumbers) Thanks for reading

fix the pipe

[QUOTE=teh pirate;26989168]fix the pipe[/QUOTE] Pipe's getting fixed

[QUOTE=hgncommand;26989197]Pipe's getting fixed[/QUOTE] drain the house

Start the bilge.

You're not helping out here mate, the problem isn't the water. I think you're missing the point.

In all the time I've been on FP, I don't think I've seen a help thread for plumbing issues.. But then again, this seems sensible compared to some other GD help threads.

[QUOTE=hgncommand;26989237]You're not helping out here mate, the problem isn't the water. I think you're missing the point.[/QUOTE] oh well if you don't mind the water i suggest getting one of these to entertain yourself [img]http://www.dimensionsguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Toy-Boat.jpg[/img]

Insurance

The water is not an issue, the issue is whether or not I am at fault, and under what conditions pipes burst.

new idea, What was the temperature of the house when you woke up? Since i highly doubt 1 window could "freeze" the house

My auntie and uncles pipes burst due to the cold weather. Water 2 inches deep on the floor, kitchen ceiling is coming down. Insurance won't do anything until mid January. They are also on the other side of the planet, staying with relatives in New Zealand while this all happened.

[QUOTE=hgncommand;26989299]The water is not an issue, the issue is whether or not I am at fault, and under what conditions pipes burst.[/QUOTE] maybe you should just get new pipes or stop using water if it's causing so much trouble

[QUOTE=areolop;26989309]new idea, What was the temperature of the house when you woke up? Since i highly doubt 1 window could "freeze" the house[/QUOTE] House was warm enough that I was just in my pyjamas, and I didn't notice any kind of abnormal draft.

[QUOTE=hgncommand;26989366]House was warm enough that I was just in my pyjamas, and I didn't notice any kind of abnormal draft.[/QUOTE] my pyjamas are fairly warm but i think you're missing the entire point of this thread.

[QUOTE=hgncommand;26989366]House was warm enough that I was just in my pyjamas, and I didn't notice any kind of abnormal draft.[/QUOTE] what was the low for the night that this happened [editline]26th December 2010[/editline] [QUOTE=teh pirate;26989386]my pyjamas are fairly warm but i think you're missing the entire point of this thread.[/QUOTE] Out.

[QUOTE=areolop;26989393]what was the low for the night that this happened [editline]26th December 2010[/editline] Out.[/QUOTE] what do you mean out the entire point of this thread is that [img]http://gyazo.com/4dbe7cbba767fe3bec81a352939630a1.png[/img] and i need help

Put an obsidian block in the way.

PS, OP there is a certain type of copper that was used a lot at some point for making pipes, and it corrodes from the inside, and splits [i]along[/i] the pipe.

[QUOTE=areolop;26989393]what was the low for the night that this happened [editline]26th December 2010[/editline] [/QUOTE] The low today is -13 and it hasn't changed since yesterday. I'd tell you precisely but I can't see yesterday's weather.

[QUOTE=Creephi;26989472]Put an obsidian block in the way.[/QUOTE] What a waste, dirt would do the same. Although I recommend using a bucket on the source, that'll clear it all up nicely. On a serious note, I highly doubt that they could blame you for that considering one window wouldn't be enough to freeze the pipes without you getting freezing ass cold first.

Bumpity.

you should ahve lied

If the temperature in the house was above zero AND the pipes were entirely installed inside, you have a quite solid case in court. If you are charged you have every right to fight that charge in a room of court. You know with a judge and lawyers and stuff.

Yeah, we found a very cold draft in the room where it happened, as compared to another room. Looks like we're good. Phew.

use a bucket on the water source

I don't quite get how an open window can burst a pipe wide open..

Call your insurance company and file an insurance claim. The insurance company will send out an insurance adjuster and he or she will go talk to you and take pictures of the damage so they can write an estimate and get all your stuff replaced. An open window didn't cause your pipe to burst, the insurance adjuster knows the open window didn't cause your pipe to burst, just explain to them what happened and it will all be taken care of. Alternately, if you don't want to deal with your insurance company directly you can hire a public adjuster and they will deal with your insurance company for you. The downside to this is they will take a portion of the money you get. I would only go with a public adjuster if your insurance company starts to give you trouble.

If it proves to be a faulty pipe it all comes down to who's job it was to provide upkeep and have the pipes inspected. The whole window theory is completely ridiculous.

make a thread about it