What To Do When Disaster Stikes At Home
Disaster, they say, can strike at any time. And true to form, it usually does, right at the most inconvenient moment conceivable. Often you’ll have your whole day planned out in front of you: take the kids to school, have a coffee with friends, relax in the evening and then all of a sudden something will go horribly wrong, and you’ll have to rethink all your plans. Disasters around the home are more common than you might think, especially if you’ve got kids. Here are some of the disasters you might face and what to do about it.
Appliance Breakdowns
Appliances are great labor-saving devices, and we’d struggle without them. But things like washing machines, boilers and dishwashers have a habit of breaking down. When they do, it’s a disaster. In general, washing machines should last about five years if you’re using them several times a day – which most families are. So it’s a good idea to plan new washing machines into your budget periodically. When washing machines fail, it can sometimes be spectacular. Often they’ll fail at the peak of the spin dry cycle when the most stress is on the internals of the machine. If the struts holding the drum come slightly out of alignment, the drum itself can shift and start catching on the internals of the machine. If this happens, it’s bye-bye washing machine, since the force of the drum hitting the other internals smashes the whole thing to bits.
The first thing to do is to check whether the machine is covered under warranty. If it is, then you’ll be able to call a specialist for emergency repair. If it’s not, then your only choice will be to buy a new appliance.
Bust Pipes
Burst pipes are the biggest source of damage to homes in the US, thanks to the damage that water can inflict if left untreated. Pipes usually burst during the winter. Water left in the pipes freezes and expands causing the pipe to rupture. Then, as the ice thaws, water starts pouring out of the cracks and into the rest of your house.
If you’ve got a burst pipe, you’ll need an emergency water removal service to clean up the mess. These services get rid of the water in your home and make sure that the problem doesn’t recur.
Leaky Roof
Water can also come through the roof if your roof isn’t properly maintained, causing thousands of dollars worth of damage to your home if left unchecked. A telltale sign of a leaky roof are wet patches on your upstairs ceiling. Usually, water gets into your home if you’ve had a tile blown off in a storm or if the brickwork around your chimney is damaged. Perform a visual inspection of your roof from the ground to see whether you can identify the problem.
Blocked Toilets
When it comes to blocked toilets, your first port of call should be a rubber plunger. If, however, the blockage is caused by something durable, like a plastic object, then you may need the help of a professional plumber.