Plumbing emergencies have a habit of sneaking up on homeowners. One minute, you think everything is fine, and the next, there’s water where it isn’t supposed to be. Your reaction can understandably range from confusion to mild panic depending on the size of the issue (and of the puddle on the floor), but there are steps you can take immediately to reduce damage and ensure that the problem is as easy to fix as possible. Knowing these steps ahead of time will help you to be prepared for action if the need ever arises! Here’s what you need to do.
Shut Off the Water Supply
As soon as you become aware of a plumbing emergency, shut off the water supply right away. This stands as step number one even when the problem is small. You’ll probably run for the water main if you suddenly find a gushing leak in your house purely based on instinct, but even if you’re noticing patches of mildew or a small drip, stopping the supply of water feeding the problem should be your first order of business. Make sure that you’re aware of where the water shut-off is whenever you move into a new house so that you’re always prepared!
Drain the Pipes
Shutting off the water main stops the flow of water into the house, but it won’t do anything about the water that’s already in the pipes, so a leak can continue even after you’ve flipped the switch. To keep water damage at a minimum, it’s best to drain or bleed your pipes so that they’re fully empty. Open all of the taps, faucets, and spigots in your house, including the kitchen, bathrooms, and any outside faucets. When they run themselves dry, you’ll know that all of your pipes have been successfully drained.
Safely Deal with Electrical Hazards
Once the water is off and the pipes are drained, you’ll want to return to the location of your plumbing emergency and take a look around for appliances, electrical devices, or outlets in the area. Electricity and water do not mix, so you’ll want to address these before you do anything else. If you have anything electrical in the area where the water is, do not touch it or try to move anything. This is a time where it’s better to be overcautious. Head to your circuit breaker and turn off the electricity to the room or area where the leak is. Then, you can move any small devices or appliances out of the way. If there are large appliances, light fixtures, or electrical outlets in the area of the leak, leave the breaker off until the problem can be fixed.
Assess the Damage
The first three steps to dealing with a plumbing emergency are about ensuring safety and stopping the immediate source of the issue. Now, you can focus on slowing down and actually taking stock of the situation at hand. Clean up any spilled water, for starters, then try to locate the source of the issue if it’s not immediately obvious so that you can give a plumber as many details as possible. Make a note of any signs of long-term water damage, like mold and mildew, bad smells, water stains, or warping.
Call in the Professionals
When you’ve gotten the problem under control and made all of the observations that you can, it’s time to get in touch with your local emergency plumbers! Tell them what happened and all of the details you were able to glean about the emergency. They may be able to give you advice about how to mitigate any damage until they get there, or give you a DIY small fix to try out to hold you over until they can complete a full repair. Once you schedule an appointment, they’ll come and help you get to the root of the problem for good!
In the Allentown, PA area, Schuler Service is the best number to dial for your first call after a plumbing emergency! We can help you deal with your urgent issues today, so contact us for our emergency services right away.