What To Do When You Have A Leak

2/4/2021 (Permalink)

Know how to handle a water leak in your home or business

WATER is a force of nature – it will always take the path of least resistance and it will keep coming until properly repaired.

Whether you are facing a sudden and large burst pipe flooding your basement, or a small drip, drip, drip that went unnoticed for a long time, water can cause untold damage to your property.

But expert help is on hand to not only stop the leak but help with the tidy up – and ensure it does not happen again.

When you find a leak, assess what type it is, as each has its own consequences of inaction.

Consider the non-damaging leak – the toilet that keeps running or the dripping tap. These are not going to cause damage to your property as the water is still draining away where it is supposed to. But water bills will go up – and even the smallest drip, running continuously 24 hours a day, will add dollars to your bill. And fixing it takes time and money.

Next is the minimal damage – you have escaped a big problem for now, but it will only get worse if not taken care of. If buried in a wall or the basement, it is easy to overlook them until a bigger repair presents itself.

And then there is significant damage demanding immediate attention – the burst pipe causing a flood which is destroying your property as you see it. There can be no delay in getting help.

When faced with a leak try to diagnose the problem – shut off all sources of water to work out where the water is coming from. Check the water meter – is it still showing running water? If so, there is a leak somewhere – and you are paying for it.

Turn off the water supply to the building, clean up the mess and get the leak fixed – and the bigger the problem the more important it is to act fast. Document any damage by taking pictures for the insurance company and work with your trusted SERVPRO of Canton to ensure the problem is fixed properly.