Water leaking in your rental home is an experience that no renter ever desires. However, if you do discover a leak, there are steps you can take to mitigate the situation. To guarantee that you add to the solution, here’s what you should do when there’s a leak in your rental home.
Turn off the water supply
If you see or hear water coming from somewhere it shouldn’t; your starting point is to interrupt the flow of the water at the source. If the leak comes from a faucet or appliance, you can shut off the water simply by turning the handle or powering it off.
However, if your leak is more serious than that, it is critical to shut off the main water supply to the house. To do so, locate your water main shut-off valve. This may be in a basement, utility room, or outside the home. Turn the valve until the water stops flowing using a wrench and pliers.
Contain the leak and minimize water damage
The minute you turn off the water, the subsequent action is to mop up any water leaking or collecting on the floor, under cabinets, or elsewhere. Utilize old cloths and a mop to minimize the water’s spread and dry cabinets, table legs, and other wood.
If your carpet or rugs are soaked, utilize towels to soak up as much water as possible. Afterward, open the windows and activate multiple fans to dry the rug quickly. Leaving a wet carpet to sit may result in mold and permanently damage any furniture sitting on top of it.
Notify your landlord or property manager
After you get the water flow under control, it’s imperative to call your landlord quickly. Your landlord needs to know what happened and the measures you have implemented to address the problem.
It is crucial to promptly address water leaks to prevent the occurrence of serious damage. If you fail to address the issue promptly, you may be held liable for those damages. By calling your landlord, you can work together to arrange to have the leak repaired and get any other damage in the home addressed.
Simple checks and maintenance tasks to avoid leaks
The final phase in dealing with a water leak in your rental home is to implement effective prevention. It is imperative that you take action to prevent a repeat of the same incident once you have determined the cause. If feasible, protect your drains and pipes from high temps, clogs, and other prevalent complications.
In addition, you may strive to stay on top of regular maintenance matters and tell your landlord each time you observe signs of a developing problem. You can significantly prevent water leaks in your rental home by addressing issues prior to the pipes bursting.
Real Property Management Superior Properties can help you discover a new rental property in Philadelphia County or the adjacent area. To learn more and schedule a viewing, please peruse our available rentals.
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