What to do While You Wait for an Emergency Plumber

You’ve come home to a flooded basement, a burst pipe or awoke to water spraying everywhere. After the panic settles in, you clear your head and call a plumber. But what do you do while you wait? What you do during that crucial time between when you call and when the plumber arrives can help minimize the impact of the leak, help save your house or belongings, or money on costly repairs.

6 Things to Do While You Wait for Your Plumber to Arrive

Waiting for your emergency plumber to arrive can be a stressful time. Here are a few proactive things you can do that will keep your mind busy, help minimize damage and help the plumber get started.

Shut Off the Water Supply

If you have not done so already, the most important thing you can do during a leak is to shut off the valve on the main water line coming into your home. That will cut the water supply so no more water can come into your home. Minimizing the amount of water will minimize the amount of damage. If you are unable to shut off the main line or can’t locate it, a solid plan B would be to turn off the valve nearest to the leak which would shut off the flow before it reaches the leak.

Drain the Lines

Once the main line is shut off, there will still be some water left in your pipes. To prevent any of this water from leaking into your home, it is important that you drain the remaining water. To do this, just open as many faucets as you can to flush the rest of the water out of your system.

Remove Standing Water

Standing water can quickly ruin flooring, walls and furniture. It also doesn’t take much time for mold to develop. There’s no reason to wait for the plumber to arrive before you begin tackling the mess and now that’s no more water leaking, you can begin the clean-up process. Soak up as much of the standing water as you can with towels or mops or a wet vac if you have one. If possible, open windows and doors or turn on a fan to help circulate the air and dry things out.

Check Your Appliances

During extreme circumstances of a severe leak, water can pour from the pipes come into contact with your electric appliances. Electricity and water are never a good mix. If this happens, you are in risk of other more severe problems including a fire. First, check to make sure your fuse box is dry. Then if possible, turn it off. Then check any other electrical appliances near the leak and turn them off as well.

Move Furniture from Standing Water

Any furniture, beds, sofas, tables and chairs, bookcases, etc., that’s sitting in standing water or on wet carpeting can quickly become damaged. It’s best to move it to a dry area as soon as possible to increase your chances of being able to save it. You’ll also want it out of the way to make clean up easier.

Take Pictures and Notes

If you still have a little time, take out your phone and start snapping some photos to document the damage. Your images can help with any home insurance claim you may need to file from the leak.

Need a Minneapolis Plumber?

We hope you never find yourself in the type of plumbing emergency we described above, but if you do, you can count on One Hour Rooter to help. Our fast, reliable, and affordable Minneapolis plumbers have helped thousands of Minnesotans in the Twin Cities out of similar situations. Our plumbers know from experience and training how to handle most any plumbing emergency. For quick, capable and affordable emergency plumbers, 612-354-8984 or schedule a plumbing appointment online.