What to do When You have a Plumbing Leak

When you hear that drip-drip-drip of a leaky faucet or pipe, does panic set it? It doesn’t have to. While leaky pipes can cause big problems, they can be easily repaired. While you may be able to fix a small leak on your own, most of the time a leak will require the attention of a professional plumber.

Locate the Leak

If you have found water on the floor, ceiling or drywall in your home, it may be difficult to find the leak. However, leaks you can’t see can be just as troublesome as a leak you can see. These leaks can cause water damage that can be harmful to your home’s structure. Try to locate the leak if you can. If you aren’t able to find where the water is coming from, you can contact us. We are a plumber on Long Island that specializes in leak detection and repair.

Create a Temporary Repair

If you can easily access the leaking pipe, you may want to create a temporary repair to manage the leak until a plumber can put a permanent fix in place. One way to do this is to insert a sharpened pencil lead into the hole and then break it. Then, wrap the area with electrician’s tape and seal it with plumber’s epoxy repair putty. Remember that this is only a temporary solution and you should contact a plumber to permanently repair the leak as soon as possible.

Stop the Flow of Water

If the leak is more than a slow drip, you will need to stop the flow of water until a plumber can visit your home and repair the problem. To do this, shut off your main water valve and then turn on the faucets in your home to drain the plumbing of any water left in the system.

Keep Things Dry

Leaks, especially large ones, can cause a lot of water damage. While you wait for a plumber to arrive, try to keep things as dry as possible. Of course, you can use buckets to catch dripping water after you’ve turned off the water with the shut off valve. To minimize water damage, use towels to absorb water and use a fan to dry carpet and drywall.

Plumbing leaks should be taken seriously and repaired by a professional plumber. For a plumber on Long Island, contact us. We can find your leak, repair it and help you avoid water and pipe damage.