Emergency! There’s a Water Leak in my Property!
Water is an essential need for life, but it can also be one of the most destructive elements to a home. A small water leak can cause hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages if not properly contained and monitored. That is why water is one of our biggest concerns and any time a leak is observed, we treat it as an emergency.
Here are the steps you need to take if you notice a water leak in your property:
If you live in a condominium or apartment, contact your concierge, building property management, and/or superintendent immediately. They will likely come and assess the water leak and inform your neighbours to check on the scale of the leak.
Contact your landlord and let them know of the situation. They might not be able to help immediately, but it is important to keep your landlord updated on the situation.
Assess the leak to try to determine the source. Is the leak coming from a visible source like a faucet or dishwasher? Is the leak coming from the ceiling and likely the unit above you? These notes will help the plumbers and/or contractors resolve the problem.
Mitigate the damage immediately. If the leak is coming from inside the property, turn off the water supply to where you believe the leak is happening. If you cannot determine where that is, turn off the water supply to your entire unit. If the leak is coming from the ceiling, put a bucket underneath the wet part of the ceiling and poke a hole in the drywall with a sharp pen or knife - this will allow the water to flow out of the ceiling, instead of pooling and spreading to other parts of the unit.
At this point, your landlord or building management should be able to determine the best course of action and who is responsible for the repair. They will make the appropriate calls to plumbers and contractors.
The resident of the property has the most important responsibility in all of these steps. They are the people who can stop the damage immediately and can make the proper assessments so that the correct responses can be taken. If contained, a water leak can be a minor inconvenience. If it is unaddressed, the damage can be catastrophic.
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