Common household emergencies and how to handle them

Whether you are renter or homeowner, live in a condo or cottage, go solo or share your home with family or friends, one thing's for certain: Sooner or later you'll face one of these common household emergencies. Knowing how to handle it is an important part of enjoying a worry less, live more lifestyle.

Here's what to do when you're faced with:

1. Pipe leaks. 

Stop the water as quickly as you can. Generally, it's best to shut the valve closest to the problem (for example, turn the valve by the toilet clockwise to stop an overflowing toilet). Mop up water to minimize damage to finishes and reduce the likelihood of mold and mildew growth. If there's a chance the water could be electrified (it's deep enough to reach an outlet), shut off the power before you walk through standing water.

If you need to turn off water to the entire house, you'll likely find your main water valve in the garage, basement, next to the water heater or even under the kitchen sink. If that's not an option, you can turn off your water at the street – but you'll need a special tool and some know-how.

2. Roof leaks. 

Although you'll likely need a pro to stop the leak, you can give the water a safe place to go as you await repairs. Put buckets under the drip to minimize damage and spread plastic tarps in the surrounding area. If you see a bulge in your ceiling where it's holding back water, pierce a small hole with a screwdriver to release the water (in a controlled way) into waiting buckets below. While it sounds counter-intuitive to purposely poke a hole in your ceiling, you'll actually minimize damage because the water won't continue spreading throughout your attic and soaking insulation or building up to the point where it breaks through on its own in a violent waterfall.

3. Gas leaks. 

If the smell of gas is strong, get family and pets out immediately and call 9-1-1 and your utility company from a neighbor's house or another safe location. If you think you may have a leak, but the smell of gas is faint and you feel no physical symptoms, you can take one preventive step before calling: Quickly go through the house to open doors and windows to give the fumes a way to escape. Don't turn off lights, use an electric garage-door opener or do anything that could create a spark and potentially ignite fumes. When you call, emergency responders may instruct you to turn off the gas to your home. Call even if you're not sure that it's really a leak. A false alarm is much better than risking your safety! For extra peace of mind, consider installing a gas or propane detector in addition to your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. You'll also qualify for our Protective Device discount on your insurance!

4. Grease fires. 

Keep a heavy cookie sheet or lid nearby when frying to quickly smother flames and turn off the stove. If the fire doesn't go out, use your fire extinguisher. Don't put water on a grease fire – that will make it worse. In case of an oven fire, turn it off and don't open the door. To prevent oven fires, clean up spills and food particles before you turn it on, remove as much cooking residue as possible before using the self-cleaning feature, cover splatter-prone dishes and never use parchment paper at baking temperatures above 420 degrees. Take care not to let it touch the sides or heating element.

5. Clogged toilets.

 Stop flushing and, to prevent an overflow, quickly turn the water-supply valve next to the toilet clockwise to shut off the water. Using a toilet plunger (the bell-shaped kind with a tapered end; the cup-shaped ones are meant for sinks) get a tight seal so you can force as much water as possible through the toilet to dislodge the clog. Keep at it until the clog clears. If plunging gets you nowhere, dump in half a cup of dishwashing liquid and pour in a bucket of hot (not boiling) water. Let it sit for 20 minutes, and it may clear by itself. If not, it will at least lubricate the pipe and another try at plunging will likely work.

6. Broken glass. 

Never clean up broken glass without thick gloves and shoes. Use a dustpan and broom to get the big pieces and follow up with a vacuum or large piece of duct or painter's tape to pick up slivers the broom may have missed. Glass shards fly surprisingly far, so clean an area larger than you think you would need to. For a final, peace-of-mind finish, go over the area with a wet mop or hand wipe with damp paper towels. If the broken glass is a window, seal over the opening with plastic garbage bags and duct tape as you wait for repairs. 

7. Lock outs. 

Having a hidden spare key can save you a pricey call ($100 to $200) to a locksmith, but burglars know to look for keys hidden above the door frame, under the mat or in phony rocks, so keep your spare in a secret location that only you know. (Backyard garden sheds are full of unique places to hide a key.) If that's not an option, leave one with a trusted neighbor who's usually home or a nearby relative you could call. Or go keyless with a smartphone system that lets you unlock your door, arm/disarm your security alarm and turn on your lights from your phone. If you live in an apartment or condo, your property manager likely can help, as long as you can show ID to prove that you live there.

8. Tripped breakers.

If your neighbor's power is on, but yours is out or an outlet suddenly dies, chances are it's a tripped circuit breaker, especially if you had several appliances running at once. To reset the breaker, find your circuit panel (usually in the garage, basement or a utility closet). See if circuits are labeled to find the circuit that's out. If there's no label, look for a switch that doesn't line up with the rest. That's likely the tripped switch. Click it to the OFF position to reset it, then back to ON (aligned with the rest). Circuit switches are stiffer than light switches, so don't worry if it takes more pressure than you might expect to move them.

9. Rodents.

10. Cooking smoke.