Home emergencies can be quite unpredictable and no matter how secure you think your home is, you can’t always prevent them from occurring. However, what you can do is be prepared ‒ and to help you with that, here are some of the most common home emergencies and best ways of dealing with them.
Burst or broken pipes
If you notice that your water flow is slower than usual, your pipes might be frozen. In this case, what you need to do first is locate the frozen areas and heat them up with a hair dryer. If there is a bad leak somewhere in your home, or if your pipes burst, don’t panic. Your home has a main water valve ‒ either in the basement or somewhere in front of your home. It controls the flow of water, so all you need to do is turn it off to prevent water damage. After you do so, inspect your pipes to find the problem and call a plumber to fix or replace the broken pipes.
Overflowing toilet
Toilets can overflow if they can’t drain properly or if they can’t stop running. The first thing you need to do is stop the flow of water by turning off the valve, which is usually located at the back of your toilet. Mop up the water to prevent damage, and then look for the real problem. Check your toilet first ‒ see if there are any issues with the fill tube and float that could cause the flood. If not, then you might have a sewer drain clog. In that case, call a plumber to fix the blockage and, if necessary, a sewage cleanup service to sanitize your home.
Family member suffering from poisoning
If somebody in your family is vomiting, not feeling well, or acting disoriented, they might be suffering from poisoning. If they pass out, call for help immediately. In case they are conscious, call your local poison center and follow their instructions. Try to give the operator as much information as you can, and they will tell you what to do and how to help your family member. On the other hand, if their skin or eyes were in contact with a dangerous chemical, first rinse the skin/ flush the eyes with room-temperature water for at least 15 min, and then call the poison center.
Power outage
If there is a sudden power outage in your home, first turn on the flashlight on your phone and make sure everybody is okay. Check the nearby homes and streetlights to see if the problem is only at your place. If they do have power, then you should check your circuit breakers to see whether there was an overload. If the power doesn’t come back soon and you can’t locate the source of the problem, you can always call an emergency electrician from Sydney who will fix everything quickly and efficiently.
Gas leak
If you or somebody in your family smells gas, the most important thing to do is get out of the house. Don’t smoke or light anything, and never try to turn anything off. Do not ignore the leak but don’t try to find the source of it either. Open all the doors and windows to let the gas out and call for help. When you’re absolutely sure everything is safe and secure, call your utility company.
Home emergencies happen, and when they do, it’s essential that you stay calm. Since your response depends on the type of emergency, you should learn how to deal with them before they happen. This way, you will be more likely to think clearly and react quickly in order to minimize the potential damage.
