At some point in your home’s life, the probability of experiencing water-related damages or issues is very high. Not all homeowners are well-equipped to solve problems correctly.
Indeed, the primary question if you have a water leak at some point on the property is, what should you do in such a situation? The following are key recommendations you should consider.
1. Look for the Leakage Cause
The first thing one should do when dealing with any water leakage is to identify the place or equipment where the water is leaking from. Just check the pipes on the sinks and the hoses behind your appliances.
Sometimes, the point of a leak is not intuitive, as water bends through routes that have the least resistance. You might remember that the cause of the water damage could be much farther from the visible areas than you would imagine.
It can be very helpful to know how to detect water leaks by pouring water into different parts of your house in a disciplined manner. Check whether the drip, leak, or damp patch gets worse. That is the most accurate solution, but it may take a while to do the job. If you can’t identify the issue, turn the water off and call a plumbing services provider.
2. Shut Your Water Off
After the leak detection, shutting off the water supply to your home can minimize the extent of the damage that is already taking place. At home, one would probably use the main water shutoff valve to stop the water flow in case of unforeseen situations completely.
Find this valve before an emergency to get yourself acquainted with it. Yet, on the other hand, avoiding turning off the water valve requires you to turn off the electric supply, and since it is highly dangerous, contact a qualified expert as soon as possible.
3. Instantly Dry the Affected Site
When you find out where the problem is coming from, turn off the water source, move the standing water, and then dry the space. Use towels to speed up the drying process, and also use dehumidifiers and a fan. Rapid drying of the area would prevent the growth of mold and additional damage to your belongings and house.
To properly restore a water-damaged household, special equipment, such as dehumidifiers, dryers, etc., may be necessary. This equipment could include, for example, water extractors, dehumidifiers, and moisture meter sensors.
4. Assess The Damage & Repair The Leak
Once the leak source is found and the area is dry, then look into the damage. It means checking the walls, floors, furniture, and similar things for water damage signs. Black, yellow, and rust discoloration may appear; therefore, search for other signs of water damage.
Never forget to take pictures that you can use when you make the claims in case such an incident happens. Hinting at the fact that the area dried up, it is now time to tackle what needs to be done.
If the problem is negligible, like a minor leak that needs only a quick change of a pipe or faucet, you may consider this a DIY activity. In contrast, if the leak is large or you are not sure how to fix the problem, a professional plumber may be needed to do the repair.