3 Easy Ways to Keep Sudden Leaks from Destroying Your Home

If you’ve got an old plumbing system, you can almost set your watch by how often problems will spring up. Slow leaks, burst pipes, in-wall leaks—all of them can leave your home (and its value) waterlogged and seriously damaged. Leaks will also inflate your water bill several times over, and make mold growth more likely!

Even if you’re not a very handy homeowner (and who is, these days?), there are still a few things you can do to limit the effects of a surprise leak.

Use our 3 tips, and you’ll be far better prepared for a leak—and you won’t stress out while waiting for the plumbing guy to arrive!

#1: Keep Your Tools in a 5-Gallon Bucket

Honestly, this one’s a no-brainer. If you’ve got basic plumbing tools (pipe wrench, etc.) lying around the house, store them in a huge bucket. That way, when you have a sudden leak, you’ll have the bucket right there to catch water while you figure out what to do next.

Even if you don’t do anything with the tools, it’s good to have all of your “Must Have” items within arm’s reach.

#2: Have a Roll of Duct Tape Under Each Fixture

This tip is like the last one, but specifically for people who don’t own tools (and don’t really want to mess with their plumbing while in a high-pressure situation). If your plumbing system has leaking/broken pipe issues on a regular basis, having duct tape on hand will keep the situation contained until the plumber gets there.

Keep in mind, this is not a “fix”—the tape won’t last longer than a few hours, and you still have a leaky pipe on your hands. This is just to hold you over until someone like us arrives!

#3: Test Your Isolation Valves

Isolation valves are those small knobs underneath your sink and behind your toilet. These are probably the most useful thing to know when your fixtures are prone to leaking—instead of shutting water off to your whole house, you can just shut the water off at each fixture. All you need to do is turn the knob.

Annually, you should take a second and test your isolation valves to make sure they work.

Bonus Tip: Find Your Water Shutoff!

Knowing where your home’s water shutoff is located could potentially save you thousands of dollars in water damage and mold remediation. If you can’t access the leak or can’t find it on your own, the safe move is to shut off the water and call a plumber for emergency help.

It’s inconvenient to go without water for a few hours, but it’s a lot better than paying for new flooring, new walls, and mold removal. Trust us on that one.

If your plumbing system needs repairs and maintenance, call the Durham plumbing specialists at JD Service Now! Call 919-626-3626 or set up an appointment using our online form.