If you've suddenly awoken in the middle of the night to the sound of a gush of water in your basement, chances are a major line break has occurred. This can be devastating and quickly ruin your personal belongings as well as the foundation of your home. Uncontrolled, incoming leakage is considered a household emergency. Time is of the essence to get the situation under control. Here are some important steps to take should you have to shut off the flow right away.
Stop the Flow
The first thing you should do is to stop the flow of water immediately. This can be challenging if you don't know where the main shut-off valve is in your home. If you live in town and have city service, there should be a shut-off valve on the inside wall of your home. This can easily be located if you follow the lines in your basement or crawlspace to where they meet the main line outside. The meter is generally located here along with the shut-off valve. Turn this valve clockwise. This will immediately stop the flow through the lines.
Locate the Source of the Leak
Once it's shut off and the spraying has subsided, it's important to determine where the leak is coming from. In some cases, a leak can be undetermined because a buildup of pressure has occurred within the lines. This can make it hard to pinpoint where the leak is. If the culprit is a cracked or visibly broken line, it can be a simple fix that the average do-it-yourselfer can complete in less than a few hours.
Contact a Plumber Right Away
If you have a lot of standing water or you are unable to control the leak, calling an emergency plumber out to your home is vital. A plumber will be able to track the leak and resolve the issue before it gets out of control. Keep in mind that a plumber will only repair a pipe issue within your property lines. In more complex cases, you may have to contact the city for broken underground line issues or leaky meter valve issues.
Get a Hold Of a Zerorez Pro
If there's been a leak somewhere in your home, it's likely that damage could occur if the area isn't dried out completely. The best way to tackle a wet space is to call in the pros from ZEROREZ®. Cleaning specialists who are certified through the IICRC, will be able to extract contaminants and use Powered Water™ technology to safely target bacteria and odor causing mold spores. ZEROREZ® cleans with Powered water and then uses a powerful extraction wand to penetrate through upholstery, carpeting and tile flooring. In addition, commercial-grade fans and air purification systems are used to restore the air quality of your home and rejuvenate the dampened area.
Stopping the flow of water coming into your home is important. Make sure you don't lose everything you've worked with the help of the professionals at ZEROREZ®.
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