plumbing emergency

Do You Know How To Shut The Water Off To Your House?

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Houses often have leaky pipes, and when this common problem occurs, homeowners need to know how to shut the water off to their house in order to prevent an even larger plumbing disaster from occurring.

Washer or Sink Water Shutoff Valve

Whenever a plumbing emergency arises, you need to be able to turn off the water quickly in order to prevent more damage from occurring. However, many people don’t know how to do that. When there is a leak, usually that means the water that is traveling through your pies is under pressure as well so you will need to quickly take action to prevent a disaster.

Is Your Plumbing Problem A True Emergency?

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a plumber snaking a drain pipe There are common household plumbing problems that you can easily handle on your own with some basic tools and knowledge. A good example is a clogged toilet where all you need is a solid understanding of how to use a plunger and some elbow grease.

In fact, if you were to call a professional plumber, they would use a household plunger, too!

Of course, not all plumbing issues are an easy DIY fix. There are instances where the cause of the problems is unknown or requires a solid understanding of the plumbing system, in which case, hiring a plumber is in your best interests. Plus, handling serious plumbing problems on your own may put you and your family’s health at risk! Understandably, homeowners often hesitate to call a professional as emergency services don’t come cheap.

5 of the Top Common Residential Plumbing Emergencies

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The most common plumbing situations that people call plumbers for include drain clogs, broken pipes, and gas leaks. These residential plumbing issues can be prevented right from the start. Certainly, emergency residential plumbers will tell you that negligence in plumbing is the number one cause for problems like drain obstructions and defective pipes.

It is clear that people value their cars over their homes. Why is this? It is because people tend to service their cars regularly but when it comes to plumbing the task is put off. At least it goes unattended to until a dreaded plumbing emergency arrives. At this point, it is usually too late to do anything to lighten the damage that has been done.

Preventative maintenance to a plumbing system on a routine basis will keep all fixtures, drains, and pipes in great shape for a long time. It will also allow you to detect problems early before they escalate to full-blown plumbing emergencies. When you are faced with an emergency plumbing problem there are a few things you can do to reduce the damage and cut down the plumbing costs.

Follow These Top 5 Emergency Plumbing Problems and Their Repairs:

1 – Burst Pipes:

The first job is to stop the water from flowing out of the burst pipe. Find the main shut off valve to your home and close it. This will stop the water from flooding the home and will protect your fixtures until the plumber arrives. Turn the cold water taps on so you can tap the drains from any trapped water. Once the plumber arrives, they will be able to repair or replace the broken pipe.

2 – Frozen Pipes:

When the water in pipes freezes the pipes expand and can burst the pipe. When this happens, shut off the main water supply. If the pipes have not burst yet, use hot water bottles from the pipe to the tap to thaw them out. Make sure to thaw gently. Never use a flame to speed the thawing up. This can cause too much expansion and can damage the pipes. Take preventative care and have your pipes insulated properly before the cold months set in.

3 – Leaky Fixtures:

Turn of the shutoff valve to the fixture that is leaking. Look in the trap for any debris, food particles or hair that might be obstructing it. If you can remove the debris, remove it or contact your plumber for immediate help.

4 – Blocked Drains and Toilets:

Live the obstruction using a plumbing snake or a plunger. If the tools fail to unblock the clog, call your plumber for help.

5- Gas leaks:

Get out of the home if you smell gas. Gas leaks are never something suited for DIY repairs. This is because they are so dangerous to handle. Once you are safely outside, call your emergency plumber and your gas company. Under their guidance, you can turn off the gas at the control valve by the meter. Always make it a habit to keep gas appliances free of grease or fats from foods and keep them in good working order at all times.

When To Call An Emergency Plumber

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What makes a plumbing situation an emergency that cannot wait until the next day? Although there are minor plumbing problems that one can handle single-handed others need experienced hands to correct.

Correcting a plumbing problem however depends on its seriousness and how better placed you are at handling it. If the problem seems too much for you it would then be wise to have a professional plumbing service take care of the situation. If your house is covered under an insurance policy, then the best step is to let a professional handle the situation.

Turning Off the Main Water Inlet

Shutting the house’s central water supply system as soon as you find water flooded in your house should always be your first step. This however depends on whether you can find the main shutoff valve in time. If you cannot find it, or it is submerged in the flooded area then call plumbing professionals immediately. You should also take the initiative to evacuate the house before these plumbers come to rescue. This should just be an insurance policy in case the flooding isn’t taken care of in good time.

Is It Possible To Control The Water?

Some plumbing problems are too small to make you panic. A simple slow leak can be contained by placing a bucket under it, then looking for ways to stop the leakage. This should also give you time to call a plumber especially if you can’t identify the leaky source.

Low Water Pressure

If water is not gushing out of the taps in the same pressure as it used to, then chances are there is a leak somewhere in or outside the house. This situation can lead to water loss, flooding and high water bills due to the leakage. If the pressure is too low, then try to troubleshoot the supply to find where the leakage is. If you cannot identify the leak, then chances are it is beyond the inlet valves. Only a professional plumber can rectify the problem at this point.

If no water is coming off the hot water taps

Most plumbing problems occur within the hot water supply system. If very little or no hot water is being dispensed through the hot water taps, then chances are something is broken. You can confirm this by running water on the house’s main supply system. If the water comes out, then your heating system is broken and needs repair. This is a not a problem you can handle yourself, and only a certified person should be allowed to service the water heating system.

Every hot water system, whether electric or gas heaters are susceptible to damage. These systems need to be serviced at least once in 3 months to prevent precipitation and clogging of distribution pipes. A failing hot water system can be a safety risk to everyone living in the house. Hot water leakages cause more havoc than cold water does, which is the reason why they need to be repaired before more harm is done. Calling a certified technician to repair the heater, or even install a new one is therefore recommended.

A blocked sewer drainage

A clogged toilet is normal considering you can unclog it by plunging. If you have however been trying to unclog the system to no success, leave it to a plumber. Pushing the drainage system further will make the clog tougher, meaning none of the waste materials will be moving at all. The worst of all, the waste will start flowing back into your house, which is nasty.

Plumbers have the training and machinery whose main purpose is to unclog blocked drainage system. The fun part about this is that, the system can unblock a drainage in 15 minutes or even less. That is how effective and efficient it is to use a professional plumber.

The way forward

Having to deal with water damage can be disheartening. Water leakage and flooding not only make furniture, and textile materials to rot, but also paves way for mold to grow in the house. Mold growth and exposure is harmful to every living thing, as it caused respiratory infections among many others. Nonetheless, all these can be prevented by having an emergency plumber take care of the mass.

The good thing with using an emergency plumber is that, he can save you from huge expenses on both mold remediation, energy and water bills. To avoid any inconveniences caused by leakage or broken water system, have a plumber look into your water system at least twice in a year.

If you have ever had to deal with flooding in your house, you then know the havoc water can cause. It is for this reason why you should always have a plumber look into the home’s plumbing system even if the slightest leak is identified. This will save you substantially in terms of money, convenience and peace of mind.

What To Do When You Have A Burst Pipe

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Burst water pipes can result in thousands of dollars in damages and this is why many people take measures to ensure this doesn’t happen. There are times when the pipes can burst no matter how much you do to prevent it. When you get this problem you will need to deal with it in the shortest time possible and minimize the damage. Below are some of the things you will need to do when you have a burst pipe.

Shut off the water
The first thing you will need to do is turning off water at the mains. This is important because it will stop the flow of water into your home and this prevents any further damage. If there is still a flow of water drain the water in your system by flushing your toilet many times until the flow dries up. If there are any electrical sockets affected, then turn off the main switch of your electricity immediately.

Open the faucets
It is a good idea to open the faucet because when the main valve has been shut off there will still be pressure inside the pipes. Opening the faucets will let out any remaining water and there will be no pressure in the pipes. This will make it easier during the repairs because the pipes will have no water.

Call a plumber
Unless you have experience with repairing broken pipes you will need to call a plumber to do the work at some point. There are a number of things you can do before calling a local plumber near you and it is important in order to reduce the damage caused by the burst pipe. A plumber will help you with tips to prevent further damage and how to deal with the problem while waiting for the plumber to get to your home.

Getting rid of the water
Take a mop, bucket, and a shop vacuum then start getting rid of the water because you don’t want everything in your home soaking in water. Cleaning up as soon as possible will help in preventing mold. When getting rid of water see whether there is contact with any electrical wires or equipment with water because you don’t want to get shocked in the process.

Having a burst pipe is a big problem but what you do after it determines the damage it is going to cause. Use the above tips and you will have an easier time dealing with the burst pipe.

How To Prepare Your Home For The Winter To Avoid A Plumbing Emergency

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Plumbing emergencies are something many people don’t want to deal with because it can result in a lot of damages and cost a lot of money to deal with. This is why people take steps to reduce the risks of having to deal with an emergency.

Winter is when many people have to start calling for emergency plumbing service. The good thing is you can reduce the risks before winter. Below are some tips that will go a long way in helping you when preparing your home for the winter to avoid a plumbing emergency. When you use the tips below, you will be able to see the difference.

Winterize Outside Faucets

The faucets are exposed to the elements making it important to winterize them. Start by disconnecting and draining the water hoses then shutting off the water supply to the outside spigots if there is a separate shutoff valve. If you have an outdoor kitchen faucet use the same process. When the water left inside the faucet freezes it will result in a buildup of pressure and this could result in the bursting of the pipe inside or underneath the home. Do this and you will not have to start dealing with burst pipes.

Insulation of Water Pipes in Unheated Areas

Water lines that run through the attic, crawl spaces, or garage are prone to freezing when there is a drop in temperature. Adding a layer of insulation is a good idea. You can wrap them using a heat tape, foam sleeves, or newspaper. If you are looking for even more protection, then ensure the garage door is shut down during the cold days to protect the pipes inside the garage.

Having the Furnace Checked

If the furnace gives up in the winter then you will have to live without heat until the problem is fixed and this will leave the water pipes vulnerable to freezing temperature. You should make sure that your heating system is in good condition before winter comes.

Opening Cabinets

If the outside is very cold there are rooms in your home that will be colder than others and when you leave the cabinet doors open warm air will be able to circulate around the pipes. This can seem like a small thing, but it has a lot of impact.

Talking to a Pro

It is a good idea to talk to a professional plumber who will help you with more tips to avoid problems during the winter.