What To Do In A Plumbing Emergency At Home

What To Do In A Plumbing Emergency At Home

• March 09, 2018

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I am very thankful that I have never experienced such a catastrophe at home, but ever since buying our own home, G and I are always mindful on how to prevent potential accidents at home, including making it a smart home so that we can keep track of things even if we are not at home physically.

If you're ever unfortunate enough to experience burst pipes at home, here is a guide on what to do in the event of a plumbing emergency.

1) Turn Off the Water Supply
Once it has become apparent that water is filling the house, it is imperative to cut off the water supply, and this needs to be done before even calling in a plumber. How much water actually spills into your home would depend on the size and type of rupture, and its location will determine how much damage is done.

2) Call an Emergency Plumber
As any seasoned homeowner will tell you, the plumber is one of those must have numbers and you should have it saved on your phone. If you haven't, Google search emergency plumbers and your postcode. Once you've located a plumber, give him a clear description on the scenario and he will come prepared. If you’re thinking this will never happen to you - source an emergency plumber now and store the number, you will be very glad you did one day.

3) DIY Options 
If you fully understand how a plumbing system works, then you can help yourself. Merely shut off the supply, identify the leak and repair it. There are online suppliers of all things plumbing, and they have a very wide range of essential items, all at trade prices too. DIY plumbing has many benefits, not least the amount of money you’ll save. Calling out a plumber in the middle of the night is never going to be cheap, but with some online tuition and a little self-confidence, you can handle almost any situation. For prices, you can always check trusted plumbing supply stores online and take advantage of trade discounts, and with such a vast range of items, there is sure to be everything you need.

4) Action
Once you have called the plumber, clear the flooded area of furniture and appliances and do what you can to make the area accessible for the plumber who should already be on his way. Water seeps into everything, including plaster and timber, and anything that is soaked should be placed in a warm environment as soon as possible. Should the absolute worst happen and you can have a lake in your house, there are specialist companies that will salvage what they can and minimise the damage, which would be quite considerable, but first, call your home insurance company and await their advice.

Of course, it very much depends on the situation, but if you do encounter a plumbing catastrophe, it pays to remain calm and collected, and with a few tutorials on DIY plumbing, you can always buy a few tools and be ready for anything!


This is a collaborative post, all opinions are my own.