Few things induce panic like a sudden leak in the house, especially of the main line. The best way to protect your Thomasville, NC home is to know in advance what steps to take while you wait for emergency water line repair to arrive.
What to Do When There’s a Leak
Stop the Main Water Supply
The moment you spot signs of a water line leak, you have to stop the flow. This means shutting off the main water shutoff valve right away, and that’s not something you want to be hunting for when water is pouring into your home. Take time now to find that valve. In most homes this valve sits where the supply line enters the house; usually in a basement, garage, utility closet, or along an exterior wall facing the street. It may even be outdoors near a hose bib or buried near the meter at the street, though that’s less common.
Turn the handle clockwise until it stops completely. Ball valves with a lever handle need only a quarter turn perpendicular to the pipe; older gate valves take several full rotations. Once the main is closed, open a faucet on the lowest level of the house and flush a toilet once. This gets rid of the remaining water in your lines quickly.
Protect Everyone
If water is already pooling near outlets, appliances, or the breaker panel, you must get the power off. Water conducts current far better than dry air, so standing in even a shallow puddle while touching a live circuit could be deadly.
Do not step into a wet area to reach the panel if the floor is already flooded. If you can safely reach the main breaker from dry ground, shut off power to the affected rooms and leave the power off until a qualified electrician confirms it is safe. If there’s no way to get to the breaker panel, evacuate the house.
Call for Emergency Water Line Repair
As soon as the main flood has been stopped and everyone is safe, call us at 336-223-3615. We offer 24/7 emergency service.
Contain the Water
Once help is on the way and the water and electricity situations are controlled, try to contain the water that has already escaped, if you can. Grab towels, mops, buckets, and a wet/dry vacuum if you have one. Place buckets under any active drips and move rugs, furniture legs, electronics, and important papers out of the path of the flood.
For wooden furniture, slip some plastic containers or aluminum foil under the legs to prevent staining. The longer standing water sits, the more it soaks into flooring, drywall, and insulation. If it’s safe to do so with the electricity situation, set up fans to help get things dried out.
Take Pictures for Insurance
Before you start any heavy cleanup you’ll want to get some clear photos and short videos of the wet areas, the location of the leak, and any damaged belongings. Your insurance claim will move faster if you have dated, visual evidence of the original condition of your home to compare this to, and that’s something you can do now.
Get Help for Your Thomasville, NC Home
For all your plumbing needs, contact JP Underground Connections in Kernersville, NC. We work in Thomasville and any area within 45 minutes of Kernsville.
Connect with us
