Which Maintenance Issues Should You Vacate Your Home For?

There’s almost nothing more to justify an impromptu vacation than to suffer a terrible maintenance issue in your household. While that might not seem like much of a silver lining given everything you have to organize from that point on, there is some value in making the most of it. To vacate your home, perhaps with only a few hours notice, the issue should threaten your safety or potentially cause vital living utilities to be inoperable. For example, if your plumbing doesn’t work at all or power goes off with no fix in sight, it may be worth living in a hotel for a few days.

But when do you know what those issues are? After all, no one wants to be dramatic and run off camping just because the tap is a little leaky. Moreover, before we head away it’s essential to report the issue to the professionals, the neighbors, and even the authorities if the danger is large enough. However, if your life is in danger, such as if your carbon monoxide detector is going off, then be sure to leave ASAP.

In this post, we’ll discuss some examples:

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Intensive Leaks

Nothing sends you packing faster than water pouring through your ceiling or bubbling up from under the floorboards, and for obvious reasons. We’re not talking about a dripping faucet of course, we mean the kind of leak where you’re frantically grabbing towels and buckets, or if a major flood has affected your home.

If water’s shooting out from pipes or you hear that ominous dripping sound inside walls, don’t wait around hoping it’ll magically stop. A serious leak can destroy your home’s structure surprisingly fast, and standing water is dangerous. But before you dash out the door, shut off your main water valve (now is a good time to find it if you don’t know) and flip off the fuse box (unless it’s wet at all). Then call a plumber, obviously. If you’re safe take pictures of the damage before you leave. Do none of this if it threatens your safety, however.

Worrisome Pests

Finding a single ant or spider isn’t cause for evacuation even if it makes you feel a little sqeaimish, but if you see a serious roach or rat infestation or worse, see large wasps or hornets nests, then it’s best to leave, as they can be health hazards. If you spot signs of such a major infestation (including droppings, chewed materials, unusual smells, and strange sounds in the walls), call Terminix pest control right away. 

They’ll tell you whether it’s safe to stay while treatment happens. Sometimes they need to use chemicals that require you to clear out anyway. Let your neighbors know too, especially in apartments or townhomes where pests easily travel between units.

Electrical Fires

This one’s extremely serious. If you smell something burning or see smoke coming from outlets or appliances, get out first, ask questions later. Electrical fires can spread incredibly fast and release toxic fumes before you even realize what’s happening. If you notice one, then using your foam fire extinguisher to help alleviate the problem from a safe distance can help, but never use water on it. You may hear some warning signs before, including circuit breakers that constantly trip, lights that flicker for no reason, outlets that feel warm to touch, or a terrible burning smell that’s not quite like normal smoke. Call the fire department immediately.

With this advice, we hope you know how and when to vacate your home for safety reasons.