If you have never dealt with a plumbing emergency at home, you’re in luck! You’re also one of the very few who have never had to so far, which means it’s time to learn what to do in a plumbing emergency so that you can be ready if it ever happens. At some point or another, every household will deal with a plumbing emergency – whether that’s a puddle on the floor or damp in the walls. You won’t know when they’re coming, but if you are well-prepared for one, you’re going to be just fine.
Before you rush out and panic buy pipes and start Googling where the “PN16 Flanges Stainless Steel” go, you need to take a breath and be ready. You don’t need to qualify as a plumber to learn what to do. So, with that in mind, let’s check out five calm, cool ways to handle a plumbing emergency in your home.
- The very first thing to do is to shut off the water supply. You should turn off the source of the leak as soon as possible, whether it’s the toilet valve or the valve under the sink. The water shutoff valve that provides a flow of water to your home could be shut off, too. Turn it clockwise, and that should do the job.
- Next, you want to check the water heater and shut that off, too. You want to make sure that there will be no damage to the heater itself. This will stop the heat from welling up and bursting.
- Once you’ve done both of those, find the small leaks in the home. You can turn on the taps one by one once you’ve turned off the main water valve. Any other water will move away from the pipes, and you’ll be able to work out where the leak is coming from. Please make a note so that you can let the plumber know when you call them out.
- Even when you turn off the water valve, your pipes will still be holding water. Turn off the valve and turn on the faucets once more to drain the pipes. Try to unblock sinks and toilets while you are waiting for a plumber – this could help the emergency, and they’ll be able to bring the right equipment to help you out.
- Lastly, don’t forget actually to call the plumber! You may not have the right tools for the job, but they sure will. It’s easy to forget to ring them amid a panic, but they’ll let you know whether you have done the right thing so far, and they’ll be able to guide you through what to do next.
A plumbing emergency doesn’t have to end in devastation for your home. All you need is to stay calm and let the experts help. Oh, and turn off the water. There’s no need for further damage if there doesn’t have to be.
