Mamba Drainage Services
Burst Pipe Repair Vancouver
Pipe just burst? Water spraying everywhere? Stop reading and call (778) 961-0824. We answer live 24/7 and dispatch anywhere in Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, New Westminster, Surrey or Delta.
The truck carries shutoff tools, a leak isolation kit, submersible pumps and the parts to make the permanent repair on the first visit. No after hours surcharge on active flooding. Licensed plumber, insured, WCB covered, 4.9 on 86 Google reviews.
What causes burst pipes in Vancouver
Vancouver pipes do not burst as often as Prairie pipes. Our winters are mild. But when they do, it is almost always one of five causes.
Freeze events, December to February. Most Vancouver burst pipe calls cluster around the three to five deep cold snaps we get each winter, when overnight temperatures sit below minus 5 Celsius. The pipes most at risk are exterior hose bibs that never got winterized, uninsulated crawlspace runs, garage mounted laundry hookups, and any plumbing on the north facing exterior wall of a 1970s to 1990s build. The calls spike again once the temperature climbs back above freezing, because the ice plug melts and water immediately flows out the crack.
Aging Poly-B fittings, 1978 to 1995 homes. Polybutylene degrades from the chlorine in BC water. The original acetal plastic fittings fail first, usually at an elbow or a tee inside a wall.
Galvanized steel corrosion, pre-1965 homes. East Vancouver heritage homes still on original galvanized pipe are at end of life. Pinhole leaks turn into bursts when the corrosion finally eats through the wall. Spot repairs buy you time. Replacement is the real fix.
Water hammer and pressure spikes. Quick close valves on the washing machine, the ice maker and the dishwasher create surges that exceed the pipe rating. Common in homes with no water hammer arrestors and homes running high static pressure over 80 PSI, which is normal in Burnaby and parts of West Vancouver.
Construction damage. Drilling, nailing or excavation that hits a buried pipe. We see it constantly on renovations, because the contractor opens a wall without knowing what is in it.
Whatever the cause, the emergency response is the same. Shut off the water, isolate the leak, dry the area, repair it permanently. We bring the gear and the parts to do all four in one visit.
What to do before we arrive
Every minute of free flowing water is more damage. Do these in order.
- Shut off the main water valve. Usually in the basement at the front foundation wall, or in a utility closet on a slab on grade home. Quarter turn ball valve, perpendicular to the pipe is closed. Round handle valve, turn clockwise until tight. If you cannot find it, call us and the dispatcher walks you through it on the phone
- Open all the faucets. Hot and cold sides on every one, and flush every toilet once. It drains the residual water and kills the pressure that is pushing water out the burst
- Cut the power if water is near electrical. If water is pooling near an outlet, a light fixture or the panel, kill the breaker before you touch anything. Water and 120V is lethal
- Move belongings out of the wet area. Cardboard wicks water and is gone. Wood furniture warps in standing water. Move what you can to dry ground
- Photograph everything for insurance. Water level, affected belongings, the burst itself if you can reach it. Time stamped photos taken before mitigation are worth thousands on a claim, and most policies require you to mitigate immediately. The photos prove you did
- Call (778) 961-0824. Live dispatch 24/7. You get a real arrival window on the call
- Do not call your insurer first. Most policies require immediate mitigation, and that is what we do. Once the leak is stopped and the cause is documented, then call them with a clear report
What Vancouver customers say
Ryan was great! My landlord called him to fix my blocked kitchen sink. He showed up the same day (on a Sunday) and fixed the problem. He even cleaned the sink and dried up all the water that had leaked before he got there. And he was very careful coming in and out of the house so my cat wouldn’t get out. I’d definitely recommend him.
Ryan is INCREDIBLE. He has been responding to all of us (four houses and families!) affected by a sewage back up. This is all on Boxing Day and beyond, in terrible weather full of ice, cold and rain. He is so knowledgeable, and knew what was needed right away. Just the top of his field I am sure. As well as that, he is incredibly calm, respectful, kind and fair. I am truly amazed by this person's capacity and competence in combination with his noble, calm presence in the face of a real mess. Thank you Ryan, so very much!
I had very positive experience with Mamba Services, Ryan was amazing to work with and took care of my drain issues in no time. He arrived on time, was very professional and efficient in carrying out the work. What impressed me was how honest he was in recommending needed repair. He was very patient in explaining the different options. I will certainly call them for future projects.
Had an excellent experience. Ryan was fantastic, it was an after hours call late in the evening and he showed up exactly in the time frame he gave. Took care of the kitchen sink issue within minutes all systems were running like new. Pricing was extremely reasonable, Ryan was patient and explained everything to me while fixing my problem. I would highly recommend this company for any plumbing work.
Ryan was efficient, experienced, and knowledgeable. He was able to squeeze me into his schedule with short notice and wasted no time with my appointment. He arrived on site inspected the issue, and was quickly at work with resolving the problem. I am very pleased with his service and honesty. He provided recommendations that will help assist me in future occurrences.
Burst pipe, Vancouver
Shut the water off. Then call this number.
Main valve first, then the phone. We answer live around the clock and dispatch across Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, New Westminster, Surrey and Delta.
Burst pipe repair FAQ, Vancouver
Not on active flooding. A burst pipe is the same rate as daytime. A surcharge does apply to non emergency overnight work. We are not going to penalise you for an emergency you did not choose.
Yes, about 95% of the time. Every emergency truck carries copper, PEX crimp, PEX push fit, valves, water hammer arrestors and a portable crimper. The repairs that need a second visit are buried main water line bursts, because those wait on an excavator.
Usually for the damage the burst caused, meaning drywall, flooring and contents, depending on your policy. The pipe repair itself may or may not be covered and that varies policy to policy. We hand you a written scope and photo documentation in the format BC adjusters ask for.
We pump out the standing water and dry the immediate area. Full restoration, meaning drywall removal, mould remediation and flooring, needs a restoration contractor. Your insurer will usually name one, and we coordinate the handoff.
Eventually, yes. Poly-B fails progressively rather than all at once. We patch the active burst, then quote a full re-pipe you can schedule on your own terms. The Poly-B pipe replacement page has the detail.
The dividing line is the water meter. Anything from the meter into the house is yours, and that includes the run under the front lawn and the driveway. Anything on the street side of the meter belongs to City of Vancouver Water. We find the break, tell you which side it sits on, and coordinate with the City when it is theirs.
Yes. Common line bursts get coordinated with the property manager and council, with certificates of service for the building file. After hours response is standard, and we carry liability coverage and WCB.
Yes. We partner with Financeit for 0% interest options up to 24 months, and most main line and re-pipe jobs qualify. The application is online and you can do it from your phone while we are still on site.
Yes, all of Greater Vancouver, off the same dispatcher and the same 24/7 line.
24/7 EMERGENCY DISPATCH
Water where it should not be?
Ryan picks up. Live dispatch, and you get a real arrival window on the call.