Emergency Repair Essentials Every Homeowner Should Have.
A variety of accidents can happen to your home at any time—and these problems won’t wait for you to prepare. Furthermore, they often occur when it’s difficult or impossible to call a professional for assistance—for example, during a thunderstorm or in the middle of the night.
If you wake up to a burst pipe or a leaking roof, and calling a professional isn’t an option right away, you shouldn’t be powerless to prevent further trouble. Having a basic toolkit is a great start, but you’ll need a few more items on hand if you really want to fix the problem quickly. Here’s a quick list of everything you should have in your home in case you need to make an emergency repair.
Essential items for a plumbing emergency
Water is incredibly destructive, and even minor leaks can cause serious damage to your home. Having basic tools like wrenches and knowing the location of your home’s shutoff valves is essential, but here are a few other items that can help you in an emergency:
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A drain snake. A plunger will clear a clog in a drain or toilet (and if you don’t have one, remember to use a trash bag over the toilet as a last resort), but if the plunger doesn’t stop the inexorable rise of water, you’ll need a drain snake . This is a simple tool that anyone can use, and it will clear most clogs fairly quickly, potentially preventing a catastrophe.
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Battery-powered pumps. You may already have a sump pump installed to drain your basement and crawlspace. However, if the power goes out, your sump pump won’t do much. Battery backup power is typically short-lived, so a cordless sump pump can be a real lifesaver. Even a pump like the DrillPump ($17) can prevent flooding long enough to call a professional.
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Pipe Clamps. Water pipes tend to burst at the most inopportune moments, and shutting off the water to the entire house isn’t ideal if you have to wait several days for a plumber to arrive. A few pipe clamps can help you get through these difficult times. These clamps are quite simple: simply place them on the pipe and tighten the clamp until the leak is sealed with a rubber gasket. This solution won’t last forever, but it will likely allow you to maintain your water supply for a few days until you can fix a more permanent problem.
Useful items for roofing emergencies
Roof leaks often go unnoticed until a severe storm suddenly reveals them, and roof repairs are often put off until the weather improves. Here’s what you’ll need if your roof starts leaking at the worst possible time:
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Roofing cement. Roofing cement (such as Henry 208R ) can be a lifesaver. If you notice obvious roof damage or a recent leak, applying a layer of roofing cement to the damaged area is a quick and easy repair that will prevent water penetration until you can take more permanent measures.
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Tarp. A durable tarp is useful in many emergency situations, but is especially essential in the event of an unexpected roof leak. Along with a few nails with plastic caps, you can quickly cover any damaged area of the roof and keep it as dry as possible until a roofer can assess the situation. Covering a roof with a tarp is easy, although you should always exercise extreme caution when on the roof, especially if it’s raining.
Other items for solving various household problems
There are many other things you may not need every day, but should have on hand in case of an emergency:
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Spray Sealant. This clear, waterproof spray sealant can be used to repair cracks in windows, minor roof damage, and anything else that suddenly starts leaking.
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Plastic Zip Ties. These plastic ties are incredibly useful because they’re quick and easy to use, can be connected to each other, and are strong enough for most temporary repairs where something needs to be held together. In a pinch, if you don’t have a drain snake, they can even be used as a homemade drain cleaner .
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Electrical tape and duct tape. No, electrical tape won’t fix everything, but this strong, sticky tape can temporarily fix tools, hold parts together, stop minor leaks—and, yes, seal damaged ducts. Electrical tape is essential if you plan to do any electrical repairs yourself, whether it’s tying wires together, insulating exposed wires, or securing a loose connection.
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Plastic sheeting. Plastic sheeting is useful when a tarp is too heavy and bulky. It can be used in almost any situation where you need to protect a room from water or bad weather, for example, to cover a broken window during a storm or to cover the floor under a roof leak.
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Superglue. Superglue is a very useful thing: it can bond almost anything, and it can even be used to seal small leaks in pipes in a pinch.
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Twine. Having some strong twine is definitely a good idea. It can be used to secure items, reinforce repairs and connections, tie down tarps, and in a million other ways.
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Bucket. The classic 5-gallon bucket has so many uses that you probably already have one—but if not, it’s time to get one. You can use it to catch spills, carry out trash, water, or even tools, mix things—in a pinch, it can even serve as a makeshift stepladder.
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Multi-tool. You have a whole set of hand and power tools, but when an emergency arises, you don’t always have time to gather everything you need. Having a high-quality multi-tool gives you an entire arsenal in your pocket, allowing you to start troubleshooting immediately.