Plumbers help, help, help!!

sparticus · Jan 8, 2010

I woke up this morning to find a dripping of water coming from my ceiling in the den.I shut off the water at the top of the water heater & put a bucket under the drip in the den.It has pretty much stopped dripping but was wondering should i open all the hot & cold water as i own a 3 floor town house? I have already opened them on all 3 floors,[but still get some water coming out of one of the faucets,is this normal] is this necessary or correct?
The temp is in the teens and has been that way for about 3-4 days now & i probably have a bursted water line. Any suggestions where to find an inexpensive plumber/handyman as we are on fixed incomes as i am a caretaker for my disabled wife & unable to do the work.Any advice is much appreciated. Please excuse my grammar as i only have a 6th grade education, thank you in advance.

ProPokerPlayer · Jan 8, 2010

I guess in desperation u could try 1 of the guys on graigslist...no telling what ull b getting but looks like u may not have a choice....

jordan17 · Jan 8, 2010

if you're in L.A. I'll come over...

viking611 · Jan 8, 2010

For a 6th grade education, you have better grammar than most on here!

wilheim · Jan 8, 2010

http://www.hometips.com/repair-fix/plumbing-problems.html

indysports · Jan 8, 2010

shut the water off at your main (you may have a main in your home)... your water heater still holds around 40 to 50 gallons of water..once you have shut the water off at the main then turn all your faucets to drain your system the best you can...once you have done that cut the ceiling in leak area and pending on material fix it...if it is copper or pex you can buy a compression fitting and fix it.. this is the cheapest way..

Mr.Leisure · Jan 8, 2010

The valve above the water heater only turns off the hot water

Mr.Leisure · Jan 8, 2010

indy sports said:
shut the water off at your main (you may have a main in your home)... your water heater still holds around 40 to 50 gallons of water..once you have shut the water off at the main then turn all your faucets to drain your system the best you can...once you have done that cut the ceiling in leak area and pending on material fix it...if it is copper or pex you can buy a compression fitting and fix it.. this is the cheapest way..

Good stuff and if you have a circulating pump at the heater unplug it .

Im guessing galvinized

wilheim · Jan 8, 2010

Always remember "The hot is on the left facing the fixture". One of the cardinal laws of plumbing in the civilized world..Ask any plumber if you don't believe me.

wil..

sparticus · Jan 8, 2010

I am going to cut a 12x12 square in the ceiling where the ceiling was dripping. My plan is to purchase a pipe repair clamp to put over the leak on the pipe if the leak is above the square that i cut in the ceiling. Any additional comments or advise are much appreciated,thanks for all the help from you guys.