Almost every person and every home will have a plumbing emergency at one point or another. Learning how to handle a plumbing emergency will give you control to protect your home and get a repair service there much faster. Residential plumbing services are your best defense against home damage, and they can manage just about any situation that happens. Don’t get in over your head! Seek the right help immediately.
Steps to Take in a Plumbing Emergency
Keep your cool, you can help minimize the damage to your home. The steps below will help you handle a plumbing emergency, but remember to always call a plumber during the process. The safest thing for your home is to have an emergency plumber just a phone call away. We also recommend keeping your plumber’s number in a list of contacts, so it’s easy to access when you need it.
1 | Turn off the closest water source as quickly as possible |
2 | Turn off the water heater |
3 | Find and address any smaller leaks around the area |
4 | Open drains and spigots outside of your home |
5 | Call a plumber |
Tips to help you get through an emergency situation
Shut off the water Whenever an emergency strikes, turn off the closest water source as quickly as you can. For toilets, this can be as simple as turning the valve at the base or behind of your commode. For larger emergencies or flooding, you’ll want to turn off the main valve in your home. Most water valves require you to turn them clockwise for shut off.
Check your water heater
In a major emergency, it’s a good idea to turn off your water heater to avoid damage to the unit. Turn off the heater after the main valve is shut off to prevent heat from welling up inside of it, which raises the risk of bursting or overheating. If you have a gas water heater, always turn the gas off first.
Tackle small leaks
If you find a small leak that’s easy to identify, stop it as best as possible. Keeping some plumber’s tape in your toolbox will make this chore a lot easier. You can also stuff rags and towels around pipes or put buckets under dripping leaks to help stop further damage. Make a note of these leaks and let the plumbers know as soon as they arrive — this is a great way to ensure your problems are addressed in the safest order.
Open drains and spigots
There will still be water in your pipes even after the main water valve is shut off. You can move this water away from your home and potential damage areas by turning on any spigots that are outside of your home. Give the garden hose a few squirts to ensure it clears out any water, too. If you’re experiencing a small clog or backup during this process, try to open the drain with gentle methods such as a plunger. Don’t use any chemical cleaners in your pipes during an emergency because they may cause more harm before your plumber arrives.
Call and listen
People often forget to call a plumber while an emergency is occurring. Reduce as much damage as possible by calling right away. The best part of an early call is that you’ll get some initial help with the problem. Trained plumbing experts who answer your call can also let you know if the situation is too dangerous. When a professional or a government official tells you to leave your home during an emergency, please listen. It can save your life.
When you find yourself facing a problem that you can’t handle or an emergency that makes your home unsafe, and are located in Northern San Diego County, reach out to Paradise Plumbing for help and a quick remedy. We know what to do in a plumbing emergency and can start the repair process immediately.
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