The last century brought about many changes to the daily lives of the population. Among them, indoor plumbing certainly made a difference! However, the fact that we are able to enjoy so many advances does not mean they come without their problems, headaches, and accidents. That is why it is of particular importance that everyone learns how to act when a plumbing emergency presents itself.
If your house is flooded, if your water heater has burst, if none of the toilets in the home function, it is important to know how to act. And digging your head in the sand like the proverbial ostrich will just not do in situations like these.
So, how should you act during a plumbing emergency?
Start by assessing the situation
Your plumbing emergency most certainly caught you by surprise. You may have thought you were hearing dripping water from somewhere, but never did anything about it, wishing it would just stop on its own and now the worst has happened. Is it water-related? Does it involve electrical as well? Is everyone in your family safe? Or is it necessary for them to leave the home until the problem has been fixed?
Turn off the water
If you don´t know the precise location of your main water valve, it would be a good idea to find this out before an actual emergency hits. Now that it has happened, don’t walk, run to close the water valve. By taking the water out of the equation you will certainly minimize the damage.
Contact your reliable plumber
Another item in your to-do list before the emergency happens is to have on hand the number of a plumber that is reliable and can respond to your crisis within a short period of time. Call them now.
Turn on all faucets
While the plumber gets there, turn on every faucet in order to drain any remaining water within the pipes. This way the pipes will be empty and the plumber can start fixing the problem right away.
Start with the cleanup
Mop as much of the water as possible and get some towels to start drying water from places that may be damaged by it, such as hardwood floors. Prevent the growth of mold by starting to clean up as soon as possible.
Is the water heater the source of the problem?
If you know how to shut it off, do it as soon as possible to prevent further damage to it and to other nearby structures. Water heaters are complicated, don’t attempt to fix them yourself. Get a professional to do it.
Are you dealing with a clogged drain?
Whether it is a sink, bathtub or toilet, it’s always a good idea to have a couple of different plungers on hand (with and without flange) as well as a drain snake. If you know what you are doing, go ahead and unclog your problem drain. If you don’t, call your reliable plumber.
Don’t wait until a small problem turns into a major headache. Contact a plumber in your area to find out all you need to know about Leading Edge Plumber & Rooter for all your plumbing needs. From the smallest leak to the largest bathroom renovation, count on them to get your plumbing problems taken care of on time and professionally.
