What to Do When You Have a Water Leak in Your Home

If you discover a water leak in your home, you need to act immediately. First, turn off the main water supply to the affected area. Depending on where the leak is located, you can try to contain the leak by turning off the valve under the sink or behind the toilet. If the leak is in an area of your home where you don’t have access to a shut-off valve, you can turn the faucet on to drain standing or dripping water into a bucket. If this doesn’t work, you should immediately move furniture and grab a mop to mop up the remaining wet water.

The best way to detect a water leak is to look for discoloration on the walls and ceilings of the affected areas. The color will indicate that the water is leaking from the pipes that are behind the walls. In some cases, the spots can be tiny and can be difficult to spot. In these situations, the most important thing to do is to turn off the main water valve. This can be located in a basement or utility room.

The next step is to find the source of the leak. The most obvious place is near the front curb, but it’s also possible to find it in the back of your unit. If you’re unsure of where the water leak is coming from, you should try to contact your homeowners association or building management for assistance. Depending on the size of the leak, this process can take a few hours and several attempts.

A water meter test may reveal a leak inside your house. After locating the source, you should inspect cabinets and bases underneath sinks, as well as the bases of appliances such as a clothes washer and dishwasher. If you find discoloration, you should turn off the water supply valve and call a plumber right away. A leak in an upstairs bathroom may also be caused by an electrical leak. You should call a plumber to fix the problem quickly.

In townhouses, locating the water main isn’t as easy as it is in a single-family home. It may be on the side of the unit or on the back side. However, it’s always safe to call the emergency number of the homeowners association in high-rise condominium buildings. They should be able to help you determine the source of the leak and provide instructions.