Most people will experience a home emergency at some point in their lives. For this reason, it’s important to understand what the most common are and what to do in those situations. Even minor home emergencies like a blocked drain require your immediate attention, as ignoring the problem can cause a hefty bill in the future. To save both your home and your bank balance, here are six home emergencies you need to be aware of.
Water Leaks
Water leaks vary in seriousness, with some only needing minor repairs while others require lots of money to fix. So, if you ever spot a leaking roof or water running down your walls, you should call the right specialist to get them to handle the root cause. Leaks can be caused by various things. Roof leaks can be caused by missing roof tiles or blocked gutters, so get a Roof Repair or Gutter Cleaning Chattanooga company to sort it out as soon as possible.
Leaks around bathrooms, radiators, or drainage pipes require an emergency plumber to look at the pipes and replace or repair any broken bits. Getting it sorted quickly will save you money in the long run, but if the damage caused still puts you out of pocket, then use Growing Power for a short-term loan of up to £10,000.
Blocked Pipes
Blocked pipes are usually caused by the wrong materials going down the drain. For this reason, prevention is pretty simple – don’t put anything down the drain that does not belong there. For example, a toilet can only handle human waste and toilet paper, so avoid flushing down anything else. If you do experience a blockage, it’s time to call a plumber. For minor clogs, this is often enough. However, when a blockage proves difficult to clear, an emergency drainage engineer can provide the specialised help needed to resolve the issue quickly and prevent further complications.
Flooding
Flooding can cause irreparable damage to your house and belongings, making it crucial that you are aware of the signs and know how to act in such a situation. Prevention is usually better than reacting, so maybe consider looking into installing a storm protection door for your house if you live in an area prone to heavy rain. These doors are built to keep your home secure and not let the water in, as well as being made with durable, weather-resistant materials.If the flood is caused by a household appliance or a burst pipe, you should call a plumber as soon as possible. A couple of common causes include burst pipes from cold weather, clogged gutters, and faulty appliances. For any flooding, it’s important to switch off the electricity and stay with someone else until the problem is fixed.
Depending on the extent of the damage, you may also want to contact water and flood damage restoration professionals, such as the experts at 1-800 WATER DAMAGE who are wildomar’s disaster restoration specialists. Experts like these can assess the type of water responsible for the damage, dehumidify, extract excess water, and thoroughly dry out your home.
For any flooding, it’s important to switch off the electricity and stay with someone else until the problem is fixed.
A Gas Leak
A gas leak is something to be vigilant of due to its seriousness – it can cause carbon monoxide poisoning and cause an explosion. Fortunately, gas leaks give off a strong odour, so if you ever smell gas, it’s critical that you leave the property as quickly as possible. Once you’re out of the building, it’s time to call a gas fitter to quickly fix the problem.
Fire in the Kitchen
A house fire is one of the biggest fears of any homeowner. It’s something no one wants to deal with, so visit RS for a guide to preventing fires at home. If you ever experience a kitchen fire, you should try covering the flames with a metal lid or a baking sheet and switching off the source of the heat. If the fire is big, use a fire extinguisher. For fires that are too big for you to handle, you must leave the property and dial 999 as soon as possible.
A Power Outage
A power outage happens to every household at one point or another and can be very annoying, especially when you pay a lot for electricity – which you can learn to save here. While there is not much you can do at the time, there are some ways to prepare for the situation. Purchasing a backup generator will give you power, having plenty of candles and torches around will provide light, and owning plenty of books and board games will help keep you entertained for the duration of the blackout.