Home emergencies tend to catch us off guard. They usually aren’t that difficult to handle, but they come at the worse possible moment and can really make our lives miserable at least until the help comes our way.
The only way to handle these situations is to anticipate them and be prepared in advance. The majority of these emergencies can be handled by someone without professional training by using tools that can be found in every home.
Power failure
There’s not much you can do to prevent power failures, because they mostly happen due to external factors such as extreme weather changes, but you can be prepared. Some of these preparations are quite simple and you can use any equipment. If you know that there’s a chance that power may go off in your area, you can group big furniture in the center of your room so you can move around without the fear of running into something.
Prepare some food, water and a few flashlights in case the blackout lasts for a while. Any canned food will be fine as long as you can open it and eat it without electricity.
Roof repair
This is another weather-related problem. However, some roof issues could happen regardless of the weather if your house is old and you don’t maintain the roof properly. It’s important to keep in mind that, for larger projects on the roof, you need to have a proper permit and safety measures in place. You can only patch up a few things on your own, until the professionals come to your aid.
Clean the gutters regularly and see if there are any cracks on the roof. The gutters can be cleaned by hand – all you need is a plastic bag and a good ladder.
Faucets and sinks
Plumbing problems are inevitable, no matter how well your kitchen is maintained. All faucets come with an expiration date and you’ll have to change them every once in a while. O-rings are the most common cause of faucet problems and you can change them with just a wrench and a screwdriver.
Clogged sinks are just as common, but they take a bit more handiness to fix.In case you get in over your head you could always call a plumber from Eastern Suburbs to help you out.
Broken heating
There a few signs that might suggest you have a problem with air-conditioning. If you hear strange sounds coming out of the unit or the device is leaking water, turn it off right away. The same goes if the device takes a long time to turn on or if it appears to be working but there’s no cold (or hot) air coming out.
Most of these could be fixed simply by cleaning the heating device, gently and thoroughly. This should be done while the device is off and you should start with filters and finish with the exterior. Clean it when you notice the problem and continue doing it every 6 months.
Gas leaks
Gas leaks are no laughing matter. With just a small leak – a simple match or a spark could cause a fire or even an explosion. The leaks are most commonly noticed by a distinct smell of gas. If you do notice the smell open all doors and windows to air out the room, don’t turn on any electric devices and don’t light a match in the room.
The rest should be done by professionals – your only job is to turn the gas off at the meter and call the professionals.
Most of the home emergencies can be avoided or easily repaired simply by planning ahead. Do this and you won’t be caught off guard when something does happen.