Unfortunately, home disasters occur on a regular basis, whether it’s a busted water pipe, a defective furnace, or a house fire – among many more. When an emergency like this happens, you must know what to do to protect your property and your health. Here are some fairly frequent house catastrophes and how to cope with them to help you prepare.
Burst Water Pipe
Water pipes may burst for a variety of causes, including frozen pipes, plumbing problems, or inadequate maintenance. When a pipe breaks, you must act fast to limit the amount of water that enters your home.
As soon as you find a leak, disconnect your water supply from the mains to halt the flow of water. The stop tap is typically found beneath the sink, however, it can sometimes be found elsewhere. Make sure everyone in your household knows where to find the stop tap in case of a plumbing issue.
If the pipe damage is modest, you may be able to fix it yourself using a home repair kit. You should never try a repair task unless you have the necessary abilities, otherwise, you risk inflicting further harm. As a result, it’s recommended to employ a professional plumber to handle any repairs. If there was substantial flooding after the pipe was repaired, you must have your house professionally dried, or you risk mold and germs growing, which may be harmful to your family’s health. If you see mold, you should get a professional to clear it. You can learn more about this here.
Fire
A fire in your house can be life-threatening and inflict substantial property damage. If you discover smoke or a fire in your house, you must immediately notify emergency services and remove your family safely outdoors. In the case of a fire, you should never attempt to re-enter your house. Following a fire, you should inform your home insurance carrier and get guidance on how to file a claim for property damage. You may also need to call fire damage repair firms that specialize in smoke damage cleanup. They will take over the repair of your property and relieve you of part of the stress.
Fortunately, there are various methods to reduce the likelihood of a fire starting in your house – here are three helpful suggestions:
- Once a month, test your smoke detectors and replace the batteries once or twice a year.
- Regularly inspect and maintain all of your heating sources.
- When preparing meals, never leave your kitchen alone.
Broken Furnace
A malfunctioning furnace can be exceedingly dangerous, particularly if it occurs during the winter months or if your home’s inhabitants are old, pregnant, or suffering from a long-term sickness. Plus, it can cost you more in heating bills if your furnace isn’t working. If your home insurance policy covers furnaces, call your insurers so they can send an engineer out to you. If you rent, you should inform your landlord right away so that they can arrange for repairs. You might also call a furnace repair service. Most businesses have emergency engineers on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so they should be able to send someone to you soon.
Leaking Roof
Roof leaks are pretty obvious. You may initially see or hear drips of water dropping or a black patch developing on the ceiling. This doesn’t mean you should panic, but you should act fast to limit the harm. The first thing you should do is put a bucket under the leak to prevent water from ruining your floor. If the dripping sound irritates you, lay a little wooden board over the bucket to allow the water to drop out more quietly.
If any electronics are near the leak, whether in an attic or beneath the ceiling, you must move them, and everything adjacent must be unplugged. The last thing you want is an electrical fire, so get any potential risks out of the way as soon as possible.
Now that the damage has been controlled, it’s time to attempt to discover the initial site of entry of the leak. If you have access to your attic, go inside and inspect for any significant gaps, holes, or evident damage. Look for where the water is coming in if there are no apparent holes, but bear in mind that the initial hole may still be hidden. If your roof slopes, the hole might be on the outside, and the water could have gone downhill before entering. Allow specialists to check the exterior of your roof to prevent risking injury or additional damage to your roof. Once you know where the leak is coming from, you can repair it – or have experts do it.
