We’ve all seen those terrifying clips online of houses flooded with water. How about those scenes in movies or shows, where pipe leaks and there’s water rushing everywhere?
Even a tiny puncture can cause that sort of water damage. It could very plausibly happen to you as well. What does one do in such a situation?
I- Cut off the electricity.
Even before you wade into the water – especially if it’s a considerable amount of water pooled on your floor – you need to throw caution to the wind and turn off the electricity main. The odds of getting an electric shock are very high in such situations. Switch the power off at the main water pipe – which is located in the house’s switchboard.
And don’t worry about causing damage to your power supply. After dealing with the leaky pipe emergency, you can call in a professional to fix the power for you.
II- Notice the water’s colour
Water loss can manifest in many ways other than just clear water. For example, in a blocked sewer or clogged toilet, the water will usually be black. It will also have a bad smell, and you should not let yourself get physically exposed to it since it will likely be toxic and harmful. The only solution is to call a plumber or your local expert repair company. They have specialised equipment explicitly meant for such cases.
In contrast, if the water seems clear and somewhat clean and doesn’t smell too bad, it’s probably safe to go in for you as well.
III- Turn the water off at the main channel.
There are many pipes in different places all across the house, and it is too tough to pinpoint the leakage. Like the electricity, one should go and turn off the water channel at the mainlines. You can find the location of the cracked pipe or facility afterwards.
More water will cause more damage to your property. A lot of water also goes to waste. You can save water from wasting by quickly turning off the main water channel.
IV- Call the plumber
Now that you have ensured the preliminary safety measures, you can get cracking to solving the problem. Whether the problem was on a large scale or just a tiny leak that made a puddle in the bathroom – you should call the plumber. The authorised local plumber has knowledge and experience in detecting and repairing problems instantly, especially if the problem is a burst pipe, backed-up toilet, or drain waterflood.
The quicker you manage to get one in, the better. Keep in mind that in such circumstances, speed is what will save you. Acting without delay will protect your possessions, your home, and – eventually – a considerable amount of cash in the long-run.
V- Begin Cleaning up
It’s of a lot of consequence to begin working towards fixing the problem as soon as possible. You see, the more drawn-out the time your furniture, walls, floors, or belongings, in general, stay submerged, the more lasting the damage to them. The minute the plumber plus electrician confirm that it’s safe, you should begin the clean-up process.
In case the water flow has gotten to a point where it’s out of your control, you should call in an acknowledged water extraction and removal company. That would speed up the process notably since they have equipment designed to extract large quantities of water in a short period.
Meanwhile, anything that you can remove from the water, you should. Stuff that’s not fitted – like mats or floor rugs or maybe even cushions – you should pull it out and take it outside to dry. Any belongings that are just floating around, you should save them as soon as possible.
VI- Aerate and drain
A side-effect of any flooding that commonly gets neglected is mould. Mould is a living organism that tends to prefer moist areas. If allowed to grow, it could ruin the walls and floors – the whole house. More importantly, mould can cause severe breathing problems by damaging the other house inhabitants’ air passages.
Getting adequate fresh air into the rooms and drying them out is crucial. Aerating the place is incredibly essential to keep in mind in the initial 24 hours after the flooding.
VII- If you need help, hit us up!
Suppose you happen to face problems with leaky pipes or any plumbing – especially water loss or flood – no need to worry. You can dial us up, and our experienced and skilled technicians will be there as soon as possible. We guarantee quality services and exemplary conduct. Any day of the week or any time of the day – Ace Plumbers have got you covered. Just keep our phone number 07 5725 5138 at the ready.
