Every Responsible Homeowner Should Have These Emergency Repair Supplies On Hand
I remember the first time a pipe burst in my basement. I froze completely. It is a terrible feeling to watch your house get damaged and feel helpless to stop it. But I learned that you do not need to be a master contractor to handle the first ten minutes of a crisis. You just need a specific "oh no" kit. Having these few items tucked away turns a disaster into a manageable inconvenience. Here are the tools everyone should have to make an emergency a little bit more manageable.
A Water Shut Off Tool
The absolute first thing you need to identify when you have a water emergency is your main water shut off valve. Sometimes you need a special tool called a sillcock key or a curb key to turn it off at the street. Even a sturdy pair of adjustable pliers can work here. If water is spraying everywhere you cannot waste time digging through a messy toolbox. Keep this tool right next to the valve or somewhere extremely obvious so you can stop the flow of water instantly.
A Few Five Gallon Buckets
It sounds silly, but a good sturdy bucket is worth its weight in gold. When a pipe leaks or the roof starts dripping your fancy kitchen bowls will fill up in seconds. You want those big orange or blue hardware store buckets. They are perfect for catching water or hauling debris out of the way. I keep three or four nested together because they take up barely any space, but save your floors when things get wet.
Heavy Duty Waterproof Tarps
A broken window or a leak in the roof always seems to happen during the worst rainstorm of the year. Having a couple of thick tarps ready to go means you can cover a hole or protect your furniture immediately. You are not trying to fix the roof permanently, you are just trying to buy yourself some time until the roofer can get there. It is the ultimate band aid for your house when the weather turns bad.
Good Quality Duct Tape
We joke about duct tape fixing everything, but in an emergency it is actually true. Do not buy the cheap stuff from the dollar store though. You want the heavy duty fabric reinforced kind. It can hold a tarp over a broken window or temporarily seal a cracked drain pipe. It works even when surfaces are a little dirty or damp. It is the best temporary fastener you can own when you need to hold things together fast.
Zip Ties
These little plastic straps are surprisingly useful when things start falling apart. If a pipe bracket breaks or you need to secure a gate that has blown open in the wind, zip ties are the answer. They are incredibly strong and you can even link them together to make them longer. I keep a variety of sizes in my junk drawer because they can secure almost anything that needs to stay put until you can make a proper repair.
A Hands Free Headlamp
Emergencies rarely happen at noon on a sunny Tuesday. They usually happen at two in the morning when the power is out. Trying to fix a leak while holding a flashlight in your teeth is impossible and frustrating. A simple battery powered headlamp lets you see exactly what you are doing while keeping both hands free to work. It makes a scary situation feel much more manageable when you can actually see the problem clearly.
A Small Wet Dry Vacuum
If you have ever tried to clean up a flooded basement with just paper towels, you know it is a losing battle. A shop vacuum is designed to suck up water and it is a total game changer. It can pull water out of carpets and get puddles off the floor before they soak into your drywall. It turns a potential mold disaster into just a messy afternoon. It is one power tool I think everyone should own.
A Working Fire Extinguisher
This is the one item I hope you never actually have to use. But if a small fire starts in the kitchen or near the dryer, you only have seconds to react. Make sure you have one on every level of your house and check the gauge once a year to make sure it is still charged. Knowing exactly where it is and how to pull the pin gives you a sense of security that is hard to beat.
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Building this kit is not about being paranoid, it is just about being a good homeowner. You do not have to buy it all at once. Just pick up one or two things the next time you are at the store. Knowing you have a plan in your back pocket takes so much of the anxiety out of homeownership. You will sleep better knowing you can handle whatever the house throws at you.
Bliss Donahue-Power
