When a crisis occurs, it’s natural to panic at first. That’s how it is for most people, and it’s nothing to be ashamed of. When it comes to plumbing emergencies, however, losing your composure can lead to thousands of dollars of serious water damage to your home and possessions. Nobody wants that.

That’s why we’ve decided to create this simple, step-by-step guide to calmly handling a plumbing emergency. Follow these steps when disaster strikes, and you won’t find yourself overwhelmed.

Prepare in advance by having emergency numbers on hand.

Decide in advance which plumbing company you trust to take care of emergency plumbing repairs. If you’re already making the effort to write things down, it’s helpful to find the number for your local public works.

Turn off the main water valve.

Knowing where your main water valve is before disaster strikes can make a huge difference. The main water valve doesn’t have a set place it’s located within each home, but it’s usually not too difficult to find.

Look inside your home, near the outer perimeter of the house, at ground level. They’re typically located somewhere in the garage where there is an obvious path of least resistance from the valve to the outer water meter.

Take a moment to breathe.

In through the nose, out through the mouth. Taking a moment in the middle of a stressful time to remind yourself that everything will be okay can be a big help. Breathe, close your eyes, clear your mind, and count to one hundred. You’ll be just fine.

If the weather permits, open windows to allow fresh air in.

This will expedite the drying process within your home. Once you’ve turned the water off and called in the pros, this is a nice way to make things easier.

In addition to helping dry already-compromised areas, fresh, clean air is a scientifically-proven natural stress reducer.

Move anything valuable out of affected areas.

Your water is off, you’re relaxed, and you’ve called the professionals. While you’re waiting for them to arrive, make sure to inspect all areas of your home that have been affected by the plumbing emergency.

Are there any mementoes, photographs, or other valuables in the area that you’d like to preserve? Don’t forget about those things in the chaos of everything else. Take this time to move them to safety.

Congratulate yourself on handling things well.

You deserve the pat on the back.

Remember: be prepared, act quickly, stay calm, and focus. You can handle anything that comes your way, especially since you know that no matter what plumbing emergency you might face, the team at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing® of Dallas has your back.