To think I’m being a complete CF and not want to ring into work again!

[MeteorGarden92]

So I recently dropped to PT hours to accommodate completing my qualification. Work are wonderful and supportive but I know it’s a stretch for them!

Yesterday I get a call at 7am from DP who has written off his car on the way to work. He’s ok but car is not! (Second accident in 3 months but neither his fault- he has a 2 hour commute on bad roads).

Obviously I rang in and swapped my day off!! They were fine about it.

This morning he’s taken my car to work and I’ve come down to an exploded dishwasher poring water down the front of my washing machine (and no doubt over the plugs at the bag which I CANNOT get into) I’m 26 and not the most stressful practical with electrics but pretty sure I can’t go out to work and leave the new water feature going!

Rang DP - no answer as he’s no doubt mid way through an operation right now. (Dr) so don’t expect a response from him in the next hour or two and even if he does respond he’s over an hours drive away!

Rang my mum- can’t come over.

Rang the plumbers who didn’t answer yet.

This is the second time the dishwasher has done this in a month! And our car was sick a few weeks ago and had to be rushed into the vets (again by me as couldn’t reach DP at work!

DP and I are getting married in 12 weeks and he would bend over backwards to help...if I could get hold of him, which I never can as obviously they don’t allow mobiles in operating theatres and he spends 50% plus of his working day there!

He’s on a 13 hour shift today- I just feel like it’s always falls to me, and it’s always going to be my career taking a huge hit! I’m sat here feeling terrible about having to ring work again and honestly could just cry!!

[ColdToesHere]

Turn off the water. Turn off the electricity.
Go to work.

[Sirzy]

Turn off water and sort it after work.

[MeteorGarden92]

• sorry about typos I’m not illiterate just frantic typing!
  
  And I rang my mum as she’s retired and lives near by so will sometimes come and wait in for plumbers/electricians...etc. Not because I’m a child who needed my mothers input on my terrible day 🙈😭

[MeteorGarden92]

How do I turn off the water?

[Catscratchclub]

What they said ^ just contain it for now and get your bum into work!

[Catscratchclub]

There will be a stop cock somewhere - Poss under the sink? It looks like a tap. You might be able to just isolate the water to the dishwasher too.

[MoBiroBo]

Stop tap, usually under your kitchen sink. Google it if you are having problems identifying it

[IceRebel]

Rang the plumbers who didn’t answer yet.

If you can't get in touch with someone to sort out the problem, then I would do as above. Turn off the water and electricity and go to work. Nothing is going to be sorted today, and you'll feel annoyed that you've wasted a day at home.

[MeteorGarden92]

I’ve never turned off the water or electricity- advice would be gratefully received!!

Won’t that mean we’ll have to leave the water/electricity off until we can get somebody out to sort it? Which would probably be the weekend! As we can’t get the plugs behind the dishwasher out!! Without them taking the whole unit out!

[Babysharkdododont]

As pp, you really can't miss a day of work because of this.
Turn off water and electricity and get to work as soon as you can.

[Spiritinabody]

Hopefully there will be taps on the pipework at the back of the dishwasher so that you can just turn off the water supply to the dishwasher.

Can you look at your fusebox to see if the switches are labelled so you don't have to turn off the electricity to everything in the house?

[MeteorGarden92]

Honestly just feel like a crap adult this morning. The cat is sat watching me with a very judgmental look. He obviously thinks I’m the worst as he can’t reach his food bowl for a pile of soggy towels!

Wait, if I turn the electricity off won’t that turn off the fridge/freezer? DP has medication stored in there! And we wouldn’t be able to turn it back on until the water sodden plugs were dealt with!

[PCohle]

Go to the electrical panel/circuit box (where your fuses are) and turn the main circuit breakers off - they are usually a red pair at the top.

Your water stopcock will look like a tap type thing and is usually in the kitchen (mine is in a cupboard just off the kitchen). It will be somewhere with pipes going to/from it.

You need to stop dicking about on here and sort it out. You seem to be making excuses not to go to work...

[TheInvestigator]

As soon as you see a leak, the first thing you do is turn off the water. If it's near electrical outlets then you then you then off the power.

Then you can sort it out in your own time, but sooner the better.

And it's your own house!! You should know how to turn off the water and power!

[PCohle]

It might be that the dishwasher and your fridge are on a different circuit and you can isolate the dishwasher. You can usually work it out by playing around with lights.

[billybagpuss]

Look under the kitchen sink there's usually a tap like thing there that if you turn it will turn the water off.

[MeteorGarden92]

I can arrive at work any time until 10am and still be classed as having ‘worked a full day’ - we have flexi working!

So I’m not dicking around to avoid work. I have 30 mins before I would HAVE to set off.

[TheInvestigator]

The freezer will be fine. How do you think the power companies are able to turn off the power for a whole street while they do work for several hours?

Just don't open the fridge or freezer doors. If it's going to go on for more than today then ask your mum to take stuff to hers to save it and ask your neighbours to keep the medication.

Now go to work!

[burritofan]

As others have said:

Turn off water at stopcock, little tap type thing usually under the sink
Turn off kitchen sockets at the fuse box
Put lots of towels down under the freezer (which you'll have switched off at fuse box), dishwasher and washing machine
Go to work
On lunch break, organise emergency plumber, there are plenty who'll work weekends (for £££)

[Catscratchclub]

What a stop cock looks like - honestly though, it does sound like you are making excuses. I’m a single parent, I get that it’s overwhelming at times having things just on your own shoulders, but you have to just pull your big girl knickers up and get on with it. Just don’t open the fridge / freezer door and it will be fine until you get hone later

[Toddlerteaplease]

Unfortunately he's a dr. You will just have to put up with his work having to come first. It just does I'm afraid. I'm a nurse and no way can you just take days off for household emergencies such as yours. If your parents are around to help, use them. Otherwise as PP's have said. Turn off the water and the power and go to work.
You can deal with the cats disapproval later. With a big bag of treats.

[Fattymcfaterson]

Turn off electric, unplug dishwasher and isolate it from the water pile
Mop up all water
Turn electric back on
Go to work
Ring plumber on break/order a new dishwasher

[Catscratchclub]

Hmmm. See if it will attach this time!!

[SpiritedLondon]

Yes it will.... you’ll have a few hours if you don’t open the door of the fridge / freezer. I doubt medication is going to “ go off” though it’s not like food. Your priority is ensuring that no one blows themselves up. ( and the flooring isn’t destroyed). I take it you have your own home and this is not a rental? Maybe get yourself on social media and ask for an recommendation for a plumber... someone will know a friendly one nearby.

[MeteorGarden92]

I’m worried about turning off the fridge freezer given that I went and did a weeks shopping last night. I mean I do get that works important but I’m a bit hesitant to lose a weeks worth of food and all the frozen items- I mean that’s a HUGE waste. I’m gonna fiddle with the circuit breakers and see whether I can isolate the dishwasher/washing machine- although I doubt it as they’re literally next to the fridge.

😞 I know I should know how to do this, we do own the house but we’ve only been in it just under a year and I’ve never needed to turn the water/electric off before.