It’s the worst possible scenario for any renter: water leaking in your rental home! But if you do discover a leak, there are measures you can take to salvage the situation. To guarantee that you are part of 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 initial step is to turn off the water supply at the main valve. If the leak comes from a faucet or appliance, you can shut off the water simply by turning the handle or powering it off.
If your leak is more serious than that, however, it is advisable to shut off the main water supply to the house. To achieve this, locate your water main shut-off valve. This may be in a basement, utility room, or outside the home. At that moment, grab a wrench and some pliers to turn the valve until the water stops flowing.
Contain the leak and minimize water damage
As soon as you turn off the water, you should mop up any water leaking or accumulating on the floor, underneath cabinets, or elsewhere. To minimize the water’s spread and to dry wood surfaces such as table legs, cabinets, and carpets, use a mop and old towels.
If your carpet or rugs are soaked, utilize towels to soak up as much water as possible. Then, open the windows and switch on many fans to dry the rug quickly. Leaving a wet carpet to sit may result in mold and permanently damage any furniture placed on top of it.
Notify your landlord or property manager
After you get the water flow under control, it is advisable to call your landlord promptly. Your landlord needs to know what happened and what your action is to address the problem.
In order to prevent serious damage, water leaks must be addressed immediately. If you delay addressing the issue, you could be liable for those damages. By calling your landlord, you can team up to have the leak repaired and get any other damage in the home addressed.
Simple checks and maintenance tasks to avoid leaks
The final thing to do in dealing with a water leak in your rental home is to practice good prevention. As soon as you identify the source of the leak, you need to take measures to prevent a repeat of the same incident. It is recommended to protect your drains and pipes to avoid clogs, high temperatures, and other typical plumbing problems.
Additionally, it is in your best interest to stay on top of regular maintenance concerns and alert your landlord every time you discover signs of a developing problem. You can do a lot to help prevent water leaks in your rental home by taking preventive measures before they happen.
Real Property Management Marble City is here to help you locate a new rental home in Sevierville or the nearby region. For additional information, please have a look at our available rentals.
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.