It may be convenient to put off some plumbing repairs until another day. But a lot of times, the course of events may not allow you this leverage. When you wake up in the morning and find a puddle of stinking back flow in the toilet, you’ll call that an emergency, right?
When facing a plumbing emergency, it’s important to know which tool to use. Should you opt for a toilet auger or a snake for your clogged toilet? Find out more about the best tool for your situation here.
For safety and health reasons, these situations call for immediate action. On such occasions you’d need an emergency plumber service provider to the rescue at very short notice. But first, you should be able to recognize plumbing emergencies over other minor repairs that can probably wait until the weekend. Here’s your guide to the most critical plumbing repairs that should be taken care of immediately.
1. Toilet overflow
Toilet issues always need immediate attention. Toilet back up and leaks can expose you and your family to unhygienic conditions and can have serious health implications.
Most often the root of the problem is a clogged toilet drain. Try to clear the clog with a plunger or a drain snake. Take due care that you don’t come in direct contact with the dirty water. Don’t ever flush a clogged toilet without unclogging it first. If the whole situation looks too much to handle, just call for a plumber’s assistance without further delay.
2. Sewer issues
What’s worse than waking up to an overflowing toilet? That would be dealing with an overflowing toilet and a flooded kitchen on the same day!
If you’re facing too many clogs around the same time, it is possible that there is a problem with your home’s plumbing system. Another sewer issue may be a persistent foul smell whenever faucets are used or toilets are flushed.
A blocked sewer system could lead to very nasty sewer backups in the bathroom or the kitchen. Rather than wait for an emergency of sewer backup flooding, you should get the sewer line checked and cleared immediately.
3. Burst pipes and drains
Pipe bursts can cause a lot of water wastage in a short duration. If you notice a burst pipe, you should shut off the main supply and call for immediate repairs.
A burst pipe could indicate a more serious problem that requires urgent fixing. Your home’s pipes could be aged or corroded and that could have caused a burst. If that’s the case, you also run the imminent risk of hidden leaks and more damage.
If there’s a burst pipe in your home, you should call an expert plumber to inspect the pipelines and see if they need to be replaced altogether.
4. Damage due to hidden leaks
We absolutely understand that hidden leaks can go undetected for quite a few days. But once you do notice a leak, there’s absolutely no reason to ignore it any further.
Signs of leaks behind the wall include damp walls and growing mold amongst others. Not getting these leakages repaired as early as possible could cause major damage to the walls, furnishings and furniture. Besides, the mold problem can pose health hazards too. It’s better to address the problem sooner than incur expensive repairs later.
5. Basement flooding
It is not uncommon to find basement floods caused due to water seepage through walls and the building foundation, and not just bad weather. The sump pit installed in your basement is supposed to pump out the water in such conditions and prevent the basement from flooding. But if the sump pit is out of order, you’ll have to bear the consequences.
You’ll need to remove all the excess water, dry out the space, and replace wooden flooring or any other woodwork that may have been in contact with water.
Plumbing emergencies require prompt action, but that’s no reason to panic. If you have access to a reliable plumbing expert on call, you’ll definitely find the situation under control in no time.
