Every homeowner knows what it’s like to identify a small leak in their property – but what starts as a trickle can quickly turn into a torrent.
Here, Roger Oakley, Production Director at H2O Heating & Plumbing, looks at what people should do when they identify a leak and the actions they should take should things go wrong.
What do you do if there’s a leak in your home?
There are numerous ways to identify a leak in your home – the most obvious of course being finding puddles or damp patches on your floor, walls or ceiling. But it can also be identified by a sudden loss of water pressure, or worse – a flood.
The first thing you should do when identifying a leak is locate your stopcock and turn off the water. The location of your stopcock depends on your house, but it can normally found under the kitchen sink, in a bathroom cupboard or around your front or back doors.
Once you’ve found it, you’ll need to turn it in a clockwise direction to cut off the water supply. This can take a few turns to completely stop the flow of water.
As a good rule of thumb, it’s worth identifying where your stopcock is when you first move into your home to save unnecessary panic.
Leaks can also be caused by your heating system, so shutting off your boiler is a necessary second step – alongside using your circuit breaker to turn off electricity in areas of your home which are affected by the leak.
From there, it’s time to call a plumber. The first steps you have taken might have prevented a routine fix turning into a catastrophe – but turning to DIY could worsen your problems.
How H2O can help
The H2O team have been supporting homeowners and businesses across East Anglia with their plumbing and heating needs for more than 30 years.
Our accredited plumbing professionals are here to help whatever the emergency.
We also provide an extensive aftercare service and are only ever a phone call away should you need further assistance.
Have you identified a leak and need a plumber? Contact us today on 01359 235055.