How do you know if you’ve got a plumbing emergency? Most homeowners don’t want to pay extra or call a plumber to come out at 3 a.m. if the problem isn’t serious. Are you having plumbing emergencies in your home or office?
Do you need to use the plumbing immediately? If it is a secondary toilet, you might be able to wait until the next business day. The same applies for sinks, as you can use another one to wash your hands.
However, if there is a significant water leak in the basement, you probably shouldn’t wait to get help. Environmental issues can also play a part.
For example, if you require water in the summer or the pipes froze because the temperature is so cold, these are plumbing emergencies.
When you do have a serious problem, it’s important to call someone. These eight common plumbing emergencies are something to watch out for:
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Have you noticed that your sink just doesn’t drain, or it takes forever for it to happen? If you are brushing the teeth or doing the dishes, the water should drain away fairly quickly. Slow drains are very annoying, though they aren’t considered an emergency.
However, you should still get it serviced as soon as you can because the drain could get severely clogged. Water flow could fully stop or overflow the basin.
While you might get away with a clogged sink for a few days, issues with your toilet are almost always considered a plumbing emergency. For one, you may only have that one bathroom, which means if the toilet is clogged, you can’t continue using it.
Sometimes, the toilet might make strange noises or just don’t flush. These can be emergencies, as well as a leaking toilet. It’s one of the most used areas of the house, so it’s sure to be a significant problem for your family.
There are DIY methods of unclogging a toilet, but they might not work and might be part of a more serious issue.
Unresolved problems may also cause damage to your structure from leaks, and raw sewage could come up into the toilet and the house.
Have you ever been taking a shower and notice that you’re sloshing water while you’re moving around? You look down and see the water is pooled in the tub and isn’t draining. You may also hear strange gurgling sounds from the drain, even when the fixture isn’t being used.
Generally, hair and soap scum buildup are the culprits.
Though this might not be a severe emergency, you should try not to use the shower or tub until the clog is removed. Many homeowners try drain cleaner, but this can be very damaging to the pipes, so it should be avoided. Instead, call a professional for help.
Generally, a leaking faucet is going to make an annoying ‘drip-drip’ noise. You might be able to get used to it and think it’s not an emergency, but when anything in your house leaks, it is going to raise your water bill. It can also rust areas of our home, cause mold to grow, and could damage the property.
If you find that you don’t have hot water when taking a shower or doing dishes, this is a significant concern.
You might check the pilot light or other aspects of the water heater yourself, but it’s best to call a professional.
Water heaters can also start leaking, which can cause damage to the walls, carpet, flooring, and make a mess to clean up.
Any problems with your water heater are considered plumbing emergencies and should be handled by a professional as soon as possible.
Often, burst pipes only happen in the winter because the freezing temperatures cause the water in the pipe to freeze. As it gets warmer, the ice thaws and can cause ruptures in the lines .
Still, burst pipes can happen any time and are always considered an emergency. If a pipe bursts, it could release many gallons of water into the house in a few minutes. This is going to be damaging to your home.
Make sure you know where the main water shut-off valve is located and use it before calling your emergency plumber.
While waiting for the plumber to show up, you can remove your belongings and furniture to reduce the damage risks. Your plumber might also check for mildew and mold growth a few days after fixing the problem just to be sure.
If you walk into your laundry room and find that water is pooling or dripping from the washing machine, this often indicates that there is a leak somewhere in the hose. You might be able to find the hole and fix it yourself, but it’s usually best to call a professional.
Make sure you know exactly where the water shut-off valve is located so that if this happens, you can prevent further damage. An emergency plumber can be at your home quickly and assess the damage and needs for repair.
This is a plumbing nightmare that no one ever wants and as one of the plumbing emergencies one can face. Sewer backups are often costly, messy, and very inconvenient. Signs of this problem can include odors that smell like sewage, multiple drain clogs, pooling water around floor drains, and gurgling toilets.
If you find that you have one of the eight earlier-mentioned problems, it is best to call a professional for help. You might be able to fix minor issues, such as a clogged toilet or sink. However, you don’t know if that is going to take care of any bigger problems and could do more damage.
Though you always expect your plumbing system to work right, plumbing emergencies are bound to happen at some time. Please don’t panic. Do what you can to prevent more damage and call a professional.
