Top 4 Most Common Home Emergencies and How to Handle Them

Even though we like to think our homes are the safest buildings on earth, this isn’t always true.

In fact, you have to devote quite a bit of attention to your home if you want it to truly be safe for your family.

Even then, emergencies are possible and fairly common. You don’t have to worry, though, as some common home emergencies can be predicted. That also means you can prepare for them and that you’ll know exactly how to react, thus minimizing the damage and keeping your family safe.

1. A damaged roof or gutter

The roof and the gutters are two of the most important parts of the house. Even though we barely pay attention to these elements, they keep our homes cozy and safe from the weather. They aren’t immune to the harsh weather elements themselves, though.

One of the most common emergencies when it comes to these elements is a blockage in the gutters. You should clean your gutters regularly to avoid this. Most often, your problem will lie in some leaves.

Another problem that you can be facing is holes in the gutters. This happens because of rust which eats the steel of the gutter. Don’t worry, though, this is an easy fix that you can do yourself. You just need some roofing cement and a gutter scoop.

If you live in an old home and often face problems with your gutters, it may be time to completely replace them.

2. No hot water

Hot water is very important for every household, whether it’s for washing your hands, showering, or doing the dishes. This is why fixing the hot water system is of the utmost importance as soon as it breaks.

One of the top causes of your water tank not heating the water anymore is its age.

The lifespan of an average water heater is 10 to 15 years. In this time, sediment build-up is very common and probably the cause of your current issue.

And the only way to fix this problem is to install a completely new water tank. In this case, you should go with a licensed installer. It may be an investment you weren’t counting on, but it will save you and your family a lot of headaches.

3. Power failure or blackout

Sometimes the power can simply go out with no apparent reason. In the age of technology, we rely on power for almost all of our daily needs, making this a problem that needs to be fixed immediately.

Sometimes the reasons for power failure are simple, like a fuse that blew out. Other times, though, it could be something more complicated and dangerous.

The best thing you can do in this situation is to call the best emergency electrician in town. They’ll know exactly what to do and how to fix the situation while also making sure everyone is safe.

No matter how handy you are, some emergencies are simply better left up to the professionals who deal with electricity every day.

Another way to make the emergency easier for you and your family would be by purchasing a generator. This way, you’ll still be able to use the necessities in your home before the problem is entirely fixed.

4. Blocked toilet or pipe

The toilet, pipes, and drains can get blocked pretty easily. You’ll know this happened because water will start to back up or it won’t want to go down the drain anymore.

The most common issue that causes this emergency is the things you put in the toiler or drain.

Toilet paper by itself can be harmful to your pipes because it can build up and cause a blockage. You shouldn’t throw in sanitary pads, cotton swabs, or wet wipes either. These aren’t degradable, they only fill up with water and grow twice their size, thus making them block your pipes.

You can fix this problem by putting on some rubber gloves and pulling the blockage out by yourself. If this doesn’t work and the problem is deeper in the pipeline, you can pour some baking soda and vinegar into the drain. This will break the solid matter sooner rather than later.

You just need to be careful of how much you put in the drain so as not to make the pipes rusty or make them burst.

Conclusion

As you can see, these home emergencies don’t have to take a toll on your life any longer.

You can easily handle them if you keep a clear head and don’t give in to the panic.

Your job is to protect your family and with these tips, you’ll be able to do that job extraordinarily well. We’re confident you’ll be able to handle any common home emergency and that your family will love you for it.