Discovering and fixing leaks in your home can be daunting. Firstly, you probably have no idea where the leak is coming from. Without the source, you won’t be able to fix the problem. At the same time, knowing the extent of the damage—whether the source is vast or not—would be challenging.
That said, it’s possible that the thought of all these may wear you out. However, you don’t have to worry. This article tells you what you can do and steps to take when you find water leaks in your home.
1. Determine the Type of Leak You Have
Water leaks can be grouped into different types based on the degree. They could be non-damaging but costly. Assess the kind of leak you have. Is it damaging your furniture or other parts of your home? Some leaks may not lead to damage to your home but may cost you in terms of repair, time, and energy.
Meanwhile, some may impose minimal damage, while others could cause significant damage. You could hire the services of the water restoration company Plano to help you stop the damages and mitigate the effects of the water leaks.
The essence of assessing the type of leak is to help you to know how urgent they should be attended to. A burst pipe might lead to significant damage and has to be attended to promptly. While some leaks may not lead to damage at the onset, they could worsen over time.
2. Call Your Insurance Company
In case of significant damages, you should call your insurance company and inform them of the situation as soon as possible to take action. You should also document the damage the water leak has done and see possible ways they could come in and help you. Take pictures and videos, if possible, to help them see the extent of damage done. This should be done even before you clean up the mess. To learn more, watch this video:
3. Shut Down All Water Sources
These include your showers, faucets, hoses, pumps, etc. This will help you to identify if the leak is from your water supply or elsewhere. Imagine your faucets where showers are still on, and you meet a dampened area; you wouldn’t be able to decipher exactly where the problem is. Remember that discovering the source of the leak is the first step to fixing the issue. Shutting down all water outlets would make it easier.
4. Monitor Your Water Meter
After shutting down all water outlets, check your water meter. This will help you to know if water is still running even after the water outlets have been shut down. The water meter would show this by the continuous spin of the low-flow indicator. If this happens, you can confirm that there’s a leak even after shutting your water outlets.
5. Clean Up The Mess
You wouldn’t want to leave a dam of water in your house. Leaving the water to pool up may even cause more damage to your furniture or cause accidents within the home. At the same time, mold and mildew may start growing across the dampened area, which would cause more harm and no good. If there are any signs of mold and mildew growth, remove them immediately. Moreover, you should clean up using protective clothing like gloves, boots, and nose masks and disinfect the area after cleaning.
6. Identify the Source of Leakage
This is the most daunting process. If possible, you could try to look for the source of the leak yourself. This involves tracing the pathway of the leak if within your reach. However, if this is beyond your reach, you could seek the help of your plumber. They have the tools, skills, and knowledge to detect the possible source of the leakage.
7. Fix the Leakage
The aim is to seal up every leakage and solve the problem. After detecting where it is coming from, you must find a solution to the problem. If it is a major issue, you should seek the professional services of a plumber to help fix the leakages. Remember, you must be prompt about fixing and preventing the leakage from deteriorating and causing more damage.
8. Make Other Necessary Repairs
Some issues could spring forth due to the impact of the leakages. This includes mold, mildews, or damage to walls and furniture. Hence, it’s best to repair the resulting consequences of the water leakage to have your house back in shape after all repairs. Finally, don’t forget to put down measures to prevent a possible recurrence.
Conclusion
Water leaks may seem minor, but can cause significant damage in the long run. Given this, it’s best to fix the problem as soon as you find any leaks. Consider the tips discussed above to know what to do and how to deal with the water leaks in your home.
