What to Do When a Major Water Leak Happens in Your Chagrin Fall, Ohio, Home

Is there anything worse than experiencing a major water leak? It’s a nightmare that many homeowners never want to experience. However, there’s no telling when a pipe burst or water main break will creep up on you.

What you do in the immediate aftermath will determine the severity of the problem and how much damage your home will suffer. The most trusted plumbers in Chagrin Falls, OH, will look at the steps you need to take after experiencing a major water leak.

Turn Off the Water

The first thing you should do immediately when you notice you have a major water leak is to stop the flow of water. In the confusion that follows in these situations, you may not immediately see the source of the leak. Therefore, it’s always best to turn off the water supply at the main water shut-off valve.

You can find the valve near your water meter.  If your home is like most in Chagrin Falls, OH, you’ll find the water meter in the basement, crawl space, or near your home’s foundation. Once you find the valve, turn the valve clockwise until it’s fully closed.

If you can see the site of the leak and there’s a specific supply line (such as to a bathtub or sink), you may be able to shut off the individual valve for the line instead.

Take Steps to Ensure Safety

Before you do anything else, you need to take steps to prevent accidents so you don’t put yourself at risk of injuries. Change your footwear to something that can support walking across a flooded or wet surface without slips.

Next, turn off the electricity supply to the flooded area to eliminate the risk of electrocution when you come close to electrical outlets and other appliances. Finally, get your children and pets away from the flooded area.

Document the Leak

You may need to file an insurance claim after a major water leak. Therefore, it’s a good idea to document the leak and how it affected your property. Take as many pictures and videos as possible and ensure you cover every aspect of the damage to your property.

Take Steps to Minimize Water Damage

A major water leak can introduce many gallons of water to your home at once, and you'll have to do your best to limit the spread of the water. Use a wet/dry vacuum, buckets, mops, and rags to eliminate any standing water.

If you have any documents or valuables that may be damaged if the water flows toward them, you should move them first before you begin cleaning. This is important because the cleaning mechanism can move some of the standing water toward them.

After cleaning the standing water, open the windows and doors and turn on the fans to continue drying out the affected area. Drying the area properly will reduce the risk of mold growth.

Confirm the Source of the Leak

If you still don’t know the source of the leak, now is a good time to attempt tracing it. Some of the most common causes of a major water leak include:

• A break in the water mains
• A broken appliance
• A burst pipe in the wall or ceiling
• A burst pipe around bathroom or kitchen fixtures

If you can’t find the source of the leak, don’t fret.

Contact an Emergency Plumber

You can’t address a major water leak without working with an experienced plumber. A local emergency plumber will arrive quickly and complete a plumbing inspection to identify the source of the leak.

Next, they will carry out the repairs necessary to restore things back to normal and then turn on your water supply again.

Calling an experienced plumber to address this problem reduces the risk of a repeat. They will identify any other weak spots in your plumbing and fix them.

Call a Water Damage Restoration Team

Depending on the extent of the damage to your property, you may need to hire a professional water damage restoration company to thoroughly extract water from the affected parts of your home.

These specialists have industrial drying equipment that can eliminate moisture from your home a lot faster than your fans or natural breeze can manage.

File Your Insurance Claim

After you’ve addressed the leak, you need to contact your homeowners’ insurance company as soon as possible. Depending on the terms of your policy, you may be able to recoup the costs of repairs and water damage restoration.

How to Prevent a Major Water Leak in the Future

It’s possible to stay ahead of major plumbing leaks. Here are a few things you can do:

Order a Full Plumbing Inspection

If you did not get a comprehensive plumbing inspection as a part of your recovery from the previous leak, you should do so as soon as possible. An experienced plumber can spot potential problems that can morph into a major water leak. Weak or corroded pipes are the usual culprits, but poorly installed plumbing fixtures can also lead to major leaks.

Install a Water Leak Detection System

If you live in an older property where the risk of a plumbing leak is higher, you should consider installing a water leak detection system. These systems will send you an alert immediately after a leak starts, helping you prevent severe water damage.

Insulate Exposed Pipes

Exposed pipes can freeze in the winter weather here in Chagrin Falls, OH. Insulating these pipes can protect them from freezing and cracking.

Get Expert Help From Your Local Plumbers in Chagrin Falls, OH

Are you looking for a plumbing company you can trust to fast-track your recovery from a major water leak? Our team at Formica Plumbing and Sewer Co. can help. We have extensive experience helping homeowners identify and fix plumbing leaks.

We also have the tools and expertise to spot the signs of bad plumbing pipes to minimize future flooding risks. Call us today to schedule a consultation.