Common Household Emergencies All Homeowners Should Be Aware Of
Owning a home is a great blessing: you have a place to call your own, you don’t have to pay rent, you don’t have to worry about landlords and you can make all sorts of design choices you want. However, with great power comes great responsibility, meaning you have to deal with all the household emergencies alone—and there will be plenty of them. Here are the most common household emergencies to keep in mind and the solutions for easy handling:
Burst pipes
In case you notice a bad leak, the first thing you should do is turn off the main water valve and cut the water supply. This is the best thing you can do to prevent extensive damage. Inspect the pipes in search of the damage and see how it can be repaired (usually by professional plumbers). Turning off the main water valve is also a good practice when you’re leaving home in winter. In case your pipes have burst due to freezing water, consider pipe insulation during your next remodel.
Leaky water heater
There are two types of leaks from the water heater. Firstly, the pressure in the tank can be too high, causing the water to evacuate from the valve. In that case, check the wiring and heater settings. Secondly, your valve can be broken, or your tank can be cracked. This is a more serious issue that usually requires full tank drainage, complicated wiring work, and part replacement.
Power outage
In case you run out of power and everything goes dark in your home, don’t worry. If it’s night, grab your flashlight and make sure every household member is okay. Next, check whether your neighbors have power; if yes, it’s time to visit your breakers. You might notice an overload or any other problem. You can put your breaker on again, but if the issue continues, it’s best to call professionals. In some countries, like Australia, the law forbids civilians from doing their own electrical work, so finding an experienced emergency electrician in Sydney is relatively easy. These experts will come ASAP, solve your issue and explain where the problem is. Staying safe when dealing with electricity should be your main concern, so let the pros handle it.
Kitchen fire
Kitchen fires are the most common cause of fire in households all over the world. In case your grease catches fire, don’t use water. Water can cause splashing and make things even more dangerous. Instead, find a lid and cover the fire, letting it simmer down and die. If you don’t have a lid, you can suffocate the fire with baking soda. Your food will go to waste, but at least your kitchen will survive.
Critter invasion
There are various animals that can break into your home, but most homeowners are extra suspicious of rodents. In case you notice a mouse or a rat, inspect your home’s perimeter and look for things like droppings, chewing, nesting and holes. If you happen to see a hole, cover it with sealant or wire mesh and surround the area with traps. If pests continue to appear, you can always call exterminators to solve the issue before you suffer serious structural damage.
Glass incidents
Expect to often see broken glasses, plates and even windows in your home. Even though this is not a life-threatening mess, glass incidents can be hard to clean up. Whenever you can prevent the glass from breaking, do so (close windows and shutters before bad weather, keep glassware away from pets and young kids, etc.). If glass happens to break, put on thick rubber gloves to pick up bigger pieces and scoop up smaller ones with a broom before vacuuming. Seal a broken window temporarily with trash bags and duct tape.
Gas leak
This is not an issue that happens every day, it’s imperative to know about it due to its seriousness. If you smell gas (stinks like rotten eggs), you have a gas leak that requires immediate attention. Make sure to leave the house right away and call 911. Don’t try to locate the leak or do any tinkering with the electrical appliances! It goes without saying that you shouldn’t have any open flame nearby, because gas is highly flammable.
Being a homeowner requires a lot of knowledge, but with this little guide, you’ll know just what to do in case one of these common emergencies hit.
