take a breath, and then another one, it is happening, this is not the best, but it is manageable – be in control!

depends on an emergency type, kitchen sink burst, toilet major leak, or bathroom tab you can turn off that particular tap if you know where it is and how to do it at that very moment, if not, you are under time pressure so just turn off the main water supply as fast as you can.

remember you must be proactive and make sure you and your family member know where the main water supply of the house is and how to shut it down.

it is recommended to check the water heater, and after the main water supply is turned off to turn off the heater to prevent damages to the water heater unit.

 note you need to know if your unit is gas-based or not and if yes, you must turn the gas off first.

even after turning off the main water supply water is still in pipes and still running all over the place, use buckets to collect remaining water, open all faucets, drains to get away as much water as possible.

now the water is turned off, the first shock is over, but the problem is not fixed yet, to fix it – call a plumber, but the next question is what plumber you can rely on at this critical moment?

somebody you know or the first number you can get from Google? The answer is obvious – you need somebody who you trust. and again, be proactive and be ready, when you put together your checklist for emergency do a research, put two or even three numbers of plumbers who you know personally, or you got referrals for, or somebody who you found on Google and seems to have a solid reputation.

put all three numbers on the check list – you never know if at the critical moment a plumber will be available for you.

while you are waiting for the plumber to arrive
there is work to do, you need to collect water and dry up the area that was flooded  to prevent further damage – use buckets and towels to dry your floors as quickly as possible.

sometimes we need “to get burnt” to learn a lesson.

many people before us and unfortunately after us will be experiencing similar plumbing emergencies but let’s be smarter and just follow simple preventive measures to avoid the next plumbing panic situations.

install screens and clean drains regularly, 

check valves to ensure they are properly attached and move well.

inspect your pipes where possible.

be aware of early signs, such as clogged drains, bad drain odor, noises in pipes, and the water heater.

spend some money and call a plumber for inspections, it is worth it.