Almost every person has dealt with a water leak in their home at some point. A high number of homes and apartments that have suffered from water damage in the past are mostly due to leakage in their plumbing systems. Whenever you discover that you have a water leak at home, you must call a plumber. However, there are a number of things that you can do before the plumbers arrive to prevent any further damage. Here are some important tips on what to do when your home has a water leak.

Shutting Off the Water

As a homeowner it might be best to call a professional such as those from The Clean Plumbers to help with your water pipes. Immediately you discover that a water leak at home, you must act quickly. You should shut off the water going into the appliance or room where you have detected the leak. If there are any electrical appliances connected near the water leak, switch them off and unplug them immediately. You may consider shutting off your circuit breaker depending on the magnitude of the water leak. If the water leak does not subside, you should turn off your chief water valve located in the garage, yard or basement.

Eliminating Water Pressure in Your Pipes

In order to reduce the amount of water leaking in your home, turn on both the hot and cold levers of the lowest spout inside your home either on the first floor or basement. The same should be done on the faucets found in the uppermost floor. This allows air to enter into the pipes and allows them to drain their water via the lever (mostly yellow in color) opened on the house-side water meter. The water will drip for about 10-15 minutes and then slow down if it was leaking from your finished ceiling. If the dripping persists, shut off the water meter using the street-side lever.

Wrapping the Leaking Pipe

As the water pressure in the pipes will have been eliminated, you can use a tape product to wrap around the leaking pipe to act as a temporary fix as you wait for professional services. If the tape is wrapped correctly, it can stop the leakage for a while before the plumbing repairs are done. A rag can be used to wrap the pipes to stop water from being sprayed all over and instead direct it to a bucket or drain.

No homeowner wishes to contend with a water leak in their home. However, in the event that it happens, all the above steps will be useful in controlling a water leak before professional plumbers arrive. They are preventive measures against water damage in your home.