Anyone who has ever had a plumbing emergency knows how stressful it can be. Like any emergency, they can happen in a flash and get highly messy in a short time. Acting quickly is vital if you want to prevent significant water damage. In this article, we’ll bring you a few tips on how to act during a plumbing emergency courtesy of the experts at OneStop Plumbing.

Shut Off The Main Water Valve First

Before you round up all the towels and start mopping up, make sure you turn off the main water line. Not all plumbing emergencies involve water, but that may be the case any time you have a leak. The main valve is usually located outside your home or in the basement.

Once the water valve is turned off, it will be much easier to see what goes where and access the leak off the water flow. To shut off the flow, you will need to turn the water supply off at the pipes. Next, be sure to check all of the faucets in your home to make sure they are not leaking, which could cause water to wreak more havoc.

To make sure you are prepared for this type of emergency, you need to have a plan. Having a plan will make it easier to diagnose the problem and also make the situation much safer for you and your family. Make sure you know where your main valve is, how to shut off the power supply, and know where your tools are at all times.

Turn Off The Electricity

When dealing with a plumbing emergency, it is mandatory to shut off your power supply. Simply put, water and electricity make an extremely dangerous match. If you’re unsure what to do, turn off the breakers that correspond with the room that houses the water source. If you’re not sure which breakers those are, shut all of them off one by one and turn them on one at a time once you’ve made sure it’s safe. Once the breakers are off, inspect the damage or contact a professional to help you deal with the next steps.

Save What You Can

Make sure you move any books, documents, and valuables to a dry area of your home or higher ground if the water issue affects your entire home. You’ll want to soak up any water you find on the floor with towels. Don’t worry about large pieces of furniture, as there’s nothing you can do about them now. Dealing with stopping the water is your primary objective, and the sooner you do it, the minor damage the water will do to your furniture.

Find The Leak

Once you’ve made sure the main valve is turned off, open all the faucets in your house to release as much water as possible out of your pipes. Make sure to remove the water from the toilets as well. Depending on the severity, you have to determine whether or not to call a plumber. Call a plumber if the water has seeped through any ceilings or walls or if the water has backed up into your bathtub or kitchen sink.

Seal The Damage

No matter what type of emergency it is, it’s always important to seal the damage. Try not to use staples, duct tape, or industrial tape. These can break off quickly, which increases the risk of water seeping out again. Use silicone, which you can find at your local home improvement store. This will help keep the leak at bay while you call professional help to replace the affected pipes.