Plumbing emergencies can occur at any time. In some cases, you’ll face one when you least expect it. Depending on the severity of the problem, it can cause disruptions in your quality of life.
A plumbing emergency typically consists of worse scenarios than a minor leak in your faucet or sluggish drainage. Plumbing emergencies you might encounter include clogged drains or damaged pipes. In most cases, a plumbing emergency involves the risk of water damage.
A serious plumbing issue requires immediate attention by a professional. Don’t compromise the safety of your household if you’re uncertain of the steps to take before a plumber can help out. Working with reliable plumbing service providers such as Fergusons Plumbing, would greatly help during emergencies.
Although plumbing problems can occur at some point, they can be the cause of disruption in your household. Luckily, if you’re ready and know what to do when an emergency occurs, it can significantly help avoid significant damage and costly repairs. Here are several steps you must prioritize to lessen the damage if a plumbing emergency occurs.
Table of Contents
1. Contact An Emergency Plumber Right Away
Depending on the plumbing concern, such as a burst pipe, flooding in the basement, or a leak in the ceiling, you need to call an emergency plumber right away.
It might be best to have the contact details of an emergency plumber in a readily accessible location such as on the refrigerator, so everyone knows who to call.
Any plumbing emergency involving plumbing fixtures with the potential to cause water damage will require the skills of a plumber. A professional can help with any type of water damage as long as it doesn’t involve heavy flooding because it would require water restoration services to handle water removal, drying, and restoration.
2. Turn Off The Water Supply
After getting in touch with an emergency plumber, you can minimize the damage by turning off the water supply. When your toilet is overflowing, you should switch off the water at the toilet valve.
Washing machines, dryers, dishwashers, and other appliances have inlet valves you can turn off to stop the leaking. If more than one outlet is affected or you cannot find the nearest shutoff valve, it’s best to switch off the main water valve until the plumber arrives to carry out the necessary repairs.
Turning off the main valve helps lessen water leakage and prevents the flooding from getting worse. All family members should know where to find the main valve so they can shut it off during an emergency.
3. Drain The Remaining Water On The Pipes
Once you turn off the water supply, expect it to be lingering in the pipes. If you want to thoroughly drain the water in the pipes, here is the process you can follow:
- Open all the faucets in your home. Start on the upper floor of your house and proceed to the lower level, then the basement. The purpose is to help with the water flow by allowing air into the pipes. This will allow any leftover water to drain.
- Open all the faucets in the tubs and showerheads.
- Once all the faucets are open, leave them as is until the plumber arrives.
- As for the water in the toilets, empty them by flushing.
- Look for the drain plug for the main shutoff valve. Hold a bucket below and open the plug. Any water in the pipes will flow out.
Don’t forget to close all the faucets before turning the water supply back on again after the plumber performs all the necessary repairs.
4. Turn Off All Electrical Appliances
When a plumbing emergency occurs, it can put your electrical appliances at risk for damage. With this in mind, it’s crucial to turn off all appliances.
When a plumber is working on the plumbing system with leaks, make sure to turn off the water heater since it can get damaged. Generally, make sure everything dries up while the plumbing system undergoes appropriate repairs before using any electrical appliances.
5. Locate Areas With Leaks And Seal Temporarily
Once you notice a leak or crack in any exposed pipes but cannot turn off the water supply, you should temporarily seal by applying duct tape.
6. Immediately Deal With Minor Flooding
Water can be detrimental in any home, especially if extensive flooding occurs. Water will allow mould growth, damage the carpeting and weaken the drywall and flooring.
When minor flooding occurs, use anything to soak up excess water, such as towels, paper towels, rags, and spare clothing. Doing so will help absorb any lingering moisture. If you have a wet-dry vacuum, it’ll also come in handy to get rid of the water.
If there are leaks coming from the ceiling, you can use a bucket to catch the water. Make sure to check on the status of everything around your home to inform your plumber about the severity of the issue.
7. Take Photos Of The Damage
Don’t forget to take photos of the plumbing problem. The photos are crucial for both insurance and plumbing purposes to detail the status of your home after the ordeal.
Take photos using your phone to document any flooding. You can also note down what prompted the incident, as well as the steps you’ve made to prevent it from getting worse.
Final Thoughts
When you’re facing a possible emergency with the plumbing system in your home, don’t hesitate to get in touch with a professional. Even if you’re confident with your skills, attempting to fix an issue might result in a costly mistake.
Remember that plumbing emergencies can occur at any time. Knowing the appropriate steps to take before a plumber arrives can significantly help lessen the damage and help the plumber carry out the necessary repairs or replacements more conveniently.
