If you’ve ever had a leak in your home before, you know how frustrating it can be, as well as unsettling as you ask yourself “Where is it coming from?”, “What has it damaged that I can’t see?” When a big leak happens it’s going to mean big stress. You can guess how much water is leaking by looking at it, but it might be even larger than that behind the walls and under your floors!
If you find a leak in your home, you can try to figure out what’s causing it first, like an overflowing toilet, or burst pipe, but in many cases, the source won’t be visible to the naked eye. That’s when it’s essential that you call for expert help and request water leak detection in Sydney to locate the source, and put a stop to it, quick!
There are some other steps that you can take right away, and over time with the help of your plumber to damage control that big leak and get your home high and dry again!
What To Do Immediately When You Spot A Leak – the first thing you will probably do is stare at it in disbelief. “Is this really happening in my otherwise perfect and lovely home?” Once the shock passes, the first thing you need to do is shut off your home’s water supply where it comes into your house. If you fear the water has reached electrical outlets, then shut the power down as well, but only if you can stay safe and dry while reaching the main breaker, if the electrical situation looks risky it may be best to leave the house and wait in your car or someplace safe like a neighbour’s home. If you can do so safely, drain all the home’s taps and turn off your hot water heater. Call your plumber!
Once you have shut off all the water sources, you can try to determine where the leak is coming from. If you can find it, you can attempt to put on a temporary patch while you wait for professional help to arrive. If you have a pipe repair kit with special emergency leak tape, now is the time to use it. if you don’t, put it on your shopping list! Self-fusing silicone tape can provide a temporary fix when used on low-pressure lines. If you still aren’t sure where the leak is coming from, stay calm and wait for your plumber to arrive. These days professional plumbing services have 24-hour hotlines and will even come out on holidays, if they don’t, then find one that does! The possibility of your home suffering major long-term damage increases the longer the problem goes unresolved.
What to Do While You Wait For The Plumber – It’s going to take your plumber some time to get there no matter how good their service is, so you might as well begin damage control operations. If there are puddles or lakes of water on the floor, get out your mop and start swabbing those decks, matey! If there is furniture in the standing water, move it to higher ground. The sooner you can get things dry, the better your chances of avoiding the onset of mould and mildew, there are always a few spores hanging around in the air just waiting for a damp spot to set up shop!
In addition to the mop, place buckets under any leaks from above to catch the drips. Running a floor or desk fan across the wet area will also help dry it faster. In the event of a major disaster you can rent larger industrial fans and portable dehumidifiers from home supply or hardware stores. Leave the fans running 24 hours a day until you are sure the water is all gone, and make sure to keep the space as well-ventilated as possible.
What to Do Afterwards – Once the plumber arrives take a break, you could probably use one! Let the professionals do their thing while you stay out of the way. They are going to have additional instructions for you tailored for your home and specific problem, so take those to heart and do as they suggest! Depending on how serious the leak was, it’s possible that your furniture and surrounding surfaces will have to be deep cleaned and repaired. If the damage is too extensive, they will need to be replaced. The more time the area spends submerged, the worse the damage will be.
To stave off a repeat performance, follow these steps regularly:
Pay Attention – Check around your home regularly for signs of water, and listen carefully for any dripping sounds.
Watch Your Water Bill – Water bills are usually fairly predictable. If it’s abnormally high you may have another leak.
Follow Your Nose – Water has a distinct smell. If you detect a musty scent, check for leaks right away!
We hope this helps you keep your home high and dry!
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Eamon