Plumbing Emergency? What To Do


At some point in your life, you are likely to experience a household plumbing emergency. This can cause you to panic. However, as long as you manage to stay calm, it is possible to minimize the overall damage to your home. Below, you will learn the steps that you should take when you encounter a plumbing emergency. However, you should always remember to contact an emergency plumber so a team can be on their way to your home.

Turn Off the Water

When you have a plumbing emergency in your home, the first thing you need to do is get to the nearest water source and turn it off as fast as possible. If it is a toilet, then you will want to find the valve that is located behind the toilet or at its base. If it is a much larger issue, such as flooding, then you will want to locate the main valve for your home and turn it off. Usually, you will need to turn the valves clockwise in order for them to be closed.

Check the Water Heater

If you are dealing with a significant emergency, you will want to turn off the hot water heater to prevent any damage from occurring to the appliance. Once the main valve has been shut off, head to the water heater and turn it off as well. You do it in this order to help prevent heat from building up inside of the unit, raising the risk of it overheating or bursting. If your hot water heater is gas-powered, then make sure to turn off the gas first.

Address Small Water Leaks

If you notice a small leak, try to stop it as best as you can. If you have plumber's tape, great. If not, use some rags, towels, etc. to stuff around the pipes. You can place a bucket underneath the leak as well. This will simply help prevent further damage from occurring until a plumber can arrive.

Open Up the Spigots and Drains

Even after you shut off the main water valve, there is likely to still be water present in your pipes. To get this water away from the house and minimize potential interior damage, turn on outdoor spigots. If you notice a clog, go ahead and open up a drain using a plunger. Avoid the use of abrasive cleaners, as they could do more harm than good right now.

Call an Emergency Plumber

In emergent situations, you may forget the most important thing: to call a professional. While it is important to minimize the damage early on, it is just as important to contact an emergency plumber so they can be on their way to your home. In addition, while on the phone, they can give you some professional guidance on what steps to take. Depending on the exact situation, they may recommend that you leave your home because it is too dangerous for you to be inside.

For more information, contact an emergency plumber.

About Me

A Job for the Ages: Plumbers

Plumbers have been around for as long as homes have had running water. And do you know what? They'll be around for many, many more years to come. Plumbing is not a job that can easily be outsourced or done remotely. Your plumber can't exactly install your shower or fix your toilet unless they are in your actual home. Keep this in mind if you are ever looking for a job that can be done in-person. We'll share some more about plumbers on this blog, and we encourage you to read what we have to say, even if you just have a tiny interest in this field.

Tags