Take Control of Plumbing Emergencies Before They Wreak Havoc on your Home
Many plumbing emergencies involve water running from a source that it was never intended to run from, like a busted pipe or an overflowing toilet.Frequently it runs right where it can do the most damage to drywall, carpeting or to hardwood flooring.It is unlikely that you will be able to eliminate the occasional busted pipe from your life but there is a way to take control and limit much of the trauma involved with the event.
Mark Presgrave, a Master Plumber and Chief of Operations at My Plumber says that the first step to controlling many plumbing emergencies is to know where the main shut off valve is for your home and how it works.Trace the water supply line back from the water heater to an outside wall and find your shut off valve.Learn how to operate that valve.Be able to shut it off and turn it back on.With this knowledge, you lose your victim status and start to gain control over the situation.
Step two is to find all the individual shut off valves for each fixture in the home, that has one. When looking for them, keep in mind that shut off valves are usually located under the fixture; as with a toilet or behind an appliance where it connects to the water supply.Take the time to learn how they work and make sure that they operate properly and are not leaking.
What’s step three?It’s simple really.Teach every member of the household that’s old enough to react what you just taught yourself.A ten year old who knows how to work a shut off valve can prevent thousands of dollars in damage to your home.
Just one note of caution, please don’t tread thru water if there is an electrical source present.Find another way, cut the power supply, call the non-emergency number for your local fire department or just wait for the plumber.Water and electricity is a combination that is better left for a professional to deal with.
