How To Handle a Plumbing Emergency
A plumbing emergency can quickly turn you relaxing day into a frantic and stress-inducing experience. How you handle a plumbing emergency greatly affects the amount of damage your home sustains. By swiftly jumping into action with the following tips, you will help protect your home from substantial water damage.
Shut off the Water: If possible, you must immediately turn off the water supply connected to the pipe causing the problem. If, however, you are not similar with the plumbing system, simply locate the main water shutoff valve and turn it off. Once the problem is dealt with, consider labeling the valves and pipes of your plumbing system to make identifying them easier. This will come in handy the next time you have a plumbing situation.
Contain the Damage: Once the water is shut off, work on containing the damage by preventing the water from spreading to other others. Piles of paper towels, towels and even blankets can help soak up the water. If there is too much water to soak up with a few towels, consider creating a dam-like structure by placing the absorbent items in a pile to block the water from spreading. Once you have stopped the water from spreading to other areas of your home, you can use a mop to remove the excess water.
Clean Up Items: Water causes the most damage when it is absorbed, so it is vital to remove items from the water and place them in a safe and dry location. Keep in mind, however, that large items you cannot remove will have to wait to be cleaned until the water is no longer an issue. Mold is a common occurrence after water damage and you must take great care to prevent the fungi from growing. This means you may have to discard and replace certain items. For example, carpeting with excessive water damage may have to be removed and replace.
Contact a Reputable Plumber: Even if you know your way around your plumbing system, it is best to hire a professional plumber who has years of training and firsthand experience. They will be able to determine what exactly has caused the plumbing emergency, how to fix it and how to prevent it from returning.
With quick and prompt action and the help of a qualified plumber, you will reduce the amount of damage caused by the plumbing emergency. Are you facing a plumbing emergency in the Round Lake area? Stop and call Duane Blanton Plumbing immediately at (815) 781-2567.
