A water leak is an unforeseen event that is easy to manage on your own. To stop the leak, the first thing to do is to turn off the main water supply to your home. Not sure where the shutoff valve is? Most often, it's in a wet room:in the bathroom, toilet, or under the kitchen sink. In a house, it can also be in the garage or in a manhole on the ground near the entrance. However, sometimes the shut-off valve is hidden in less common places:under the floor, in a cabinet, etc. After stopping the water leak, drain your pipes by turning on the faucets in your bathroom and kitchen. All that remains is to mop up the damage and tackle the repair work.
If the water leak is located on an easily accessible pipe, an emergency repair is possible. Very often, the water leak is due to a leaky pipe. Don't panic:emergency work is very simple. All you have to do is apply plugging paste or an anti-leak strip to the breach. No more difficult than grouting tiles or painting your parquet floor! Start by cleaning the pipe and drying it (if necessary, use a hair dryer). If you are using an anti-leak strip, put on the protective gloves provided with the product. Immerse the strip in water as directed in its instructions. Then position it over the breach, stretching it around the pipe. If you prefer butcher paste, first mix equal parts hardener and resin. When the paste is homogeneous, use it to seal the breach. Whichever method is used, allow the product to dry long enough before restoring the water. Your temporary repair should hold up until the plumber arrives!
