How To Prevent Water Damage During A Plumbing Emergency

When you get home from work and find a flood in your home, you need to take action fast in order to prevent water damage in Weymouth, Massachusetts. The first thing you should do is call a plumber. But to prevent your home from becoming a swimming pool and ultimately a breeding ground for mold and mildew, you need to stop the flow of water while you wait for the plumber to arrive. Keep reading to learn what you need to do in order to prevent water damage when you have a plumbing emergency situation.

Find The Water Supply Valve To Stop The Gushing Water

The very first thing you need to do is stop the water from gushing out of the busted pipe or faucet. This is an easy task that most homeowners can handle, even if the homeowner doesn't consider himself or herself to be very handy. All you need to do is locate the silver knob on the water pipe closest to where the water is spewing out. Then turn the knob counterclockwise.

Not only will turning the water off prevent the pipes from further damage, but it will also stop the progression of water damage in your house. This will also give you time to call a licensed plumber if you haven't already done so.

Here's how to turn off the water supply for the different plumbing appliances:

• Kitchen/Bathroom Sink - The water supply valve can be found under the sink, close to the floor and the wall. In most cases, there will be one valve for hot water and a second valve for cold water. Turn both of them off in a plumbing emergency.

• Toilet - This water supply valve is usually oval in shape. It is located near the wall at the base of the toilet.

• Water Heater - Locate the pipes that carry the water to and from the heater. You should be able to spot the valve adjacent to these pipes.

Shut Of The Main Water Supply To The House

If you can't find the source of the water leak, then it's probably in the wall or floor of the house. In this case, you'll need to shut off the main valve that supplies water to your entire house. You'll need a wrench to turn the valve. The main water supply valve is located outside. It is near the water meter, which is typically found close to the street or sidewalk in front of your home. You should see a rectangular lid next to the meter. The valve will be under this lid. Using the wrench, turn the valve to the left to shut off the water going into your house.

Begin The Clean-Up Process

To prevent water damage in Weymouth, Massachusetts, you'll need to begin cleaning up the water as soon as possible. This process should start before the plumber arrives to fix the pipe, because time is of the essence when it comes to mold and mildew prevention.

Start by soaking up as much water as possible with towels. If you have a shop vac, then use that to remove the accumulated water in your home. Then, get a dehumidifier going in the space. If you don't have one, you can rent them at your local rental company. Set up a few fans to also help dry up any remaining moisture in the space. Finally, clean all surfaces with a mild detergent in order to prevent mold and mildew growth.

If there is a significant amount of water accumulation, you are better off calling in the professionals. They will come in and get rid of all the moisture in your home to prevent water damage in Weymouth, Massachusetts.