A leak in your home is never a good sign and it’s something that you want to tackle as quickly as possible in order to avoid further damage to the property.
Leaks can cause a lot of damage, especially if they go undetected for a while. Not only is there surface damage from a leak, but it can also result in foundation problems that can impact the structural integrity of your home.
With that in mind, addressing a leak quickly and knowing what to do when faced with this situation in your home is essential. Here are some helpful tips to repair a leak in your home when it’s spotted.
Turn off the water
Turning off the water is the first step when you have a leak. While a leak might not always come from running water in your taps or drainage systems, it’s a good idea to turn it off while you’re investigating.
If it’s coming from under a sink or bathroom appliance, then the likelihood of it being related to your drains is high. When it comes from your roof, it’s most likely due to rainfall and harsh weather conditions but again, it can also come from leaks in piping, so turning off the water is a great temporary fix while you explore the leak and the extent of the damage.
Identify the Leak
Where is the leak? What does it look like? How big is the leak? These are all questions you should try to get answers to before calling in the professionals. Some leaks might be something you can fix, whereas others are just too substantial and complex.
Identifying the leak though is easy enough. Once your water is turned off, try to locate the cause of the leak and how extensive the damage is from the leak itself. The more information you can get yourself before getting help, the better it’ll be for fixing the problem as quickly as possible.
Do Damage Control Where Necessary
Damage control is often necessary when it comes to leaks as the water coming from the leak might be doing more damage to other parts of the home.
For example, if the leak is pretty big and running water from the ceiling to the floor, then you’ll want to contain the water in a bucket or container that will stop it from flooding the space more.
Damage control, whether it’s propping up the leak with a container or putting some tape around a leaky pipe, is better than doing nothing.
Consider How Complex the Fix Is
How complex is the fix itself? While there are a few homeowners out there who have a bit of DIY experience, it’s important you can tell the difference between a leak you can fix and a leak that’s far beyond what you’re capable of fixing.
Don’t try and fix something that is just too complex for you to deal with. You’re more than likely to make a pig’s ear of it if you don’t know what you’re doing, especially when it comes to plumbing. Be mindful of what piping you’re touching and avoid taking anything apart that you don’t know how to put back together or understand the risks of what it would involve.
Bring in the Professionals
Talking of professionals, a water damage restoration company might be just what you need to help you with your dilemma.
A professional whether that be a plumber or handyman that’s good with fixing structural damage to the home, is good to hire. You may also run into other problems when it comes to water damage, such as mold and damp issues.
Trying to fix them by yourself is unlikely to result in a quick fix or a repair job that suffices. Always look to get the professionals to help so that you can worry less about whether you’ve done a good job or not.
Let Everything Dry and Do Cosmetic Work After It’s Fixed
Finally, when it comes to doing the cosmetic work and fixing the appearance of your home after a leak, bide your time. You don’t want to rush the job of correcting the damage because you might end up painting and decorating a bit too soon.
As a result, you could end up doing more damage, so it’s good to let everything dry for as long as posible too, in order to get rid of all the moisture on the walls and floors themselves.
Repairing a leak in your home is a headache but one that’s easy enough to do with the right knowledge and/or expertise to hand.
