As I’m sure you discovered a long time ago, life isn’t fair. In fact, as we get further and further into adulthood, it seems it gets less and less fair with the increased amount we have to protect and maintain! One of the many harsh truths of adulthood is the risk of various home emergencies that can jump on us out of the blue. Here are some of the most common house emergencies, and how to handle them.
Leaking Roof
This can be a really disheartening one, especially if you’re always telling your kids about how much you do to keep a roof over their heads! As soon as you discover a leak, the first thing you need to do (as I’m sure you’ve guessed), is to try and find the source of the leak, and place a container somewhere to collect the water. After that, you need to remove any nearby electrical appliances, then switch off general power outlets which could be at risk until you’ve managed to resolve the leak. If there’s any soft furnishings getting dripped on, move them out of the way where possible or cover them in plastic. Finally, call a local emergency roofer to come in, pinpoint the source of the leak, and patch it up.
Burst Pipe
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Of all the common home emergencies, this usually feels the most stressful, even though it’s not that much more chaotic than other domestic disasters. If you’re lucky, a burst pipe will be obvious; one continuous dripping which forms an unwanted puddle of water somewhere on the floor. This is in comparison to the kind which stays isolated in the wall, and is very hard to detect. Because these aren’t immediately obvious, a lot of people can leave them alone for a long time, which can make the damage worse and worse. If you hear a dripping but can’t see anything, investigate! Again, the first thing you should do is put out a container if necessary, and then make sure that any kind of electrical items are out of the way. Next, find your water meter and turn off the water supply to the whole property, but leave your sink taps on until you drain the pipes completely. Finally, call an emergency plumber, have them come out to your property, and leave the rest to the professionals.
Hot Water System Issues
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This home emergency is much more forgiving, provided you’re not in a rush to get out of the house fast and blindly stick your head under the shower! The most obvious sign of issues with your hot water system is, of course, a lack of hot water. However, leaks in odd places, and strange smells which seem to irradiate from one part of the house, can be a sure sign that your hot water is on the fritz. The first thing you need to do here is call a plumber. Then, turn the water off by the hot water system and turn on a hot tap somewhere to release the pressure.
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By handling these home emergencies the right way, you’ll keep your whole household safe and minimize damage to your home!