No matter how much you prepare yourself, mishaps and accidents are inevitable in and around the house. The best you can do is stay prepared for all kinds of emergencies that can affect you, your family, and your house. In this blog, we have compiled a list of preventive measures and handling techniques for common household emergencies.
- Burst and Broken Pipes
Water pipes are likely to burst due to multiple reasons. Usually, they burst during the winter when the water freezes and expands. If the leaks are ignored for too long, they may affect parts of the house and, in some severe cases, the whole house.
The first thing to do when you find any kind of leak is to close the main water valve of your house. It is usually located in the basement or front of the house. It controls the water supply and protects other pipes and plumbing in the house from bursting to avoid damaging the house’s structure. Then, you should find the leak and fix it. If you have trouble finding the actual cause of the leak or fixing it, you should contact professionals for their expertise to resolve the issue at the earliest.
- Lost Keys and Broken Locks
Though it seems strange, lost or misplaced keys and broken locks are far too common. Losing access to your home, even for a while, can disrupt your life, especially during emergencies or when you have a kid or pet locked in.
The first thing you should do is stay calm. Trying to fix the lock can damage it further, including the door. If you do not want to waste time or money damaging the door, you should call a locksmith. Most locksmith services provide immediate mobile services. They will arrive at your doorstep in no time and help you get in. They can also mend broken locks or replace your keys in case of lost cases.
- Overflowing Toilets
An overflowing toilet is one of the most unsightly and disgusting things to tackle in your house. It could be caused by running water that cannot be drained properly. The first step is to close off the valve behind the toilet to cut off the water supply. You can then clean up the spilled water and look for the actual cause. It could be the fill tube and the float or something clogging up the toilet from draining properly.
The overflowing toilet is a health hazard, and you should deal with it immediately. Make sure the toilet and affected areas are thoroughly cleaned and disinfected once the problem has been resolved. If the issue seems severe, get plumbing experts in your area to repair the damage and take measures to prevent this inconvenience in the future.
- Basement Flooding
The basement of your house could be a victim of heavy rain, flooding, or plumbing issues in your area. When you find the basement flooded, you might be tempted to jump in and clear the area on your own. However, a flooded basement is likely to cause electrocution or explosion. It is one emergency that you absolutely should not get involved in.
You should immediately call the utility company as they will turn off the electrical and gas supply.
You should let the professionals handle the issue with their safety gear and tools to keep your family safe from any harm. Once the issue is resolved, throw away stuff that can not be salvaged or properly disinfected. To prevent such issues in the future, you should get professional services for proper drainage systems, waterproofing, and sump pump installations.
- Power Outage
Even the most safe and developed cities can have power outages due to bad weather conditions or damage to the electric lines. As soon as the outage happens, switch on your phone’s flashlight and make sure everyone in the house is safe. Check for operating electrical equipment and switch off their power.
If it has only affected your home, an overload could have caused the shutdown. If you cannot find the cause and fix it, call a professional immediately for support.
If the outage is affecting the entire area, you should contact your power supply company to get the details on the repair time. You need to make plans accordingly about how to handle the situation if the repair is going to take longer than a few hours. Find torches for everyone to get around the house, and avoid lighting candles. Switch off all electrical appliances to save from electrocution. If it takes longer to repair, you want to sort out the perishables in your refrigerator.
A long-term solution for such situations would be to get solar panels. They help generate and store electricity to keep your home self-reliant and safe even in emergencies.
- Pest Infestation
No matter how many precautions you take, pest will always make their way inside your home. Whether it is your garden, basement, or attic, pests are unavoidable. While some cases might not affect you so much, some infestations can really disturb your daily life. Pests aren’t just a nuisance but they can actually affect the health of your family and destroy parts of your house.
If you suspect mice in the house, check for droppings, chewings of doors and walls, and tiny cracks and crevices they might have left behind. You want to seal those cracks immediately and set up traps to capture the ones in the house. If the problem persists, you should get professional help before they damage the house’s structure.
For ant infestation, you should remove them and thoroughly clean their path with vinegar to remove trail scents. Then, you should look for cracks and crevices in the doors, windows, walls, and floorboards to seal them from future entries. Large black carpenter ants are the biggest threat to your home and should be dealt with by professionals to remove and keep them away.
For other critters like cockroaches, spiders, and others, make sure to keep your home clean and hygienic. There are plants that repel flies and pests, or you can use homemade or artificial deterrents to keep the pests away.
- Gas Leaks
Gas leaks are one of the most critical issues to have in the house with the most severe consequences. If you smell gas leaks or anything that smells funny, you should inspect it immediately. A gas leak can cause health issues, and severe cases can even lead to explosions.
It is one emergency that should be treated with utmost care and urgency. Do not waste any time in the house, and get your entire family out of the house immediately. You should contact your utility company and alert the emergency services as well. You should remove any flammable items from around the leak and make sure not to smoke or light anything. Electrical appliances should not be switched on or off to avoid explosion.
Conclusion
No matter how cautious and prepared you are, accidents and mishaps are unavoidable in life. From minor things like lost keys and pest infestations to severe issues like gas leaks, basement flooding, and power outages, you have to be ready to handle anything. You can try to manage the simpler issues on your own, but always get professionals to deal with the emergencies with safety concerns.
