Every homeowner dreads experiencing a plumbing emergency in their home, but what sets smart homeowners apart from the rest is their ability to handle plumbing emergency situations properly when they arise. Though you may not be able to tell when you'll be faced with a plumbing emergency, being prepared for such a situation is the best way to avoid the inconvenience of inoperative plumbing and the expenses of hiring an emergency plumbing service.
You may arrive home from work or from a weekend getaway only to find that your house is flooded because of an issue with your plumbing. Here's what to do to ensure you're ready to deal with this kind of plumbing emergency.
Locate the shutoff valve to the main water supply.
The first thing you will need to do is to disconnect the water supply. But before you can do so, you will need to know the location of the shutoff valve to your home's main water connection. Fortunately, this valve is typically located outside the home so as to minimise the risk of electrocution, which can arise if you come in contact with the water. It's always a good idea to know where the water shutoff valve is located and learn how to disconnect water supply before an emergency situation arises.
Do some damage control.
Once the water is turned off, you will need to take steps to minimise the impact of water damage. Generally speaking, you will need to protect belongings that have not been damaged by the water and ensure your home is as dry as possible. You can do this by moving your belongings to a dry room and removing as much water as possible from your home. But before you can get your feet wet, make sure you turn off your electricity. This means you should also know where the main circuit breaker to your entire home electricity supply is located.
Have an emergency plumber's emergency number.
After you're done with damage control, the next step is contacting an emergency plumbing service. Explain to them what sort of emergency you are facing so they can know what they will need to solve your problem. The biggest mistake you can make is trying to look for a plumber after a plumbing emergency has already occurred. Take time to find a trustworthy plumber ahead of time and keep their phone number on hand.
With these tips on hand, you should be able to deal with your plumbing emergency as calmly and effectively as possible.
