What to Do When You Experience a Plumbing Emergency
Plumbing emergencies happen all the time, from overflowing toilets to leaky sinks, clogged drains, and water heater malfunctions. Learning how to handle these tricky situations as they arise will help you manage these situations quickly and efficiently, likely improving the outcome and increasing the chances of protecting your home. Of all of these steps we suggest, the number one priority is to contact your local professional plumbing services in Lexington to assist you with managing just about any plumbing situation you come across.
Tips During a Plumbing Emergency
#1: Shut off water. It is smart to do this as quickly as you can whenever an emergency happens. As for toilets, this is typically as simple as turning the valve at the base of the toilet. For larger emergencies, it is highly suggested to turn off the main water valve in your home. You can typically do this by simply turning it clockwise. This is a very important step, as it will stop your water from running and help to prevent further damage.
#2: Turn off your water heater. During a larger emergency, it is smart to turn off your water heater in order to avoid any potential damage to your unit. After shutting off the main water valve, the water heater should then be shut off in order to prevent the heat from welling up and increasing the risk of overheating or even bursting. If you have a gas water heater, definitely turn that off first.
#3: Take care of small leaks. If you come across an easily identifiable leak that is small, go ahead and try to stop it as best as you can. It is always handy to keep some plumber’s tape in your toolbox just in case a situation like this arises, as this typically helps with stopping small leaks. You can also use household items such as towels and buckets to help put a temporary stop to leaks and prevent further damage while you give an experienced plumber a call.
#4: Open drains and spigots. Although you have now shut off your main water valve, there will still be water inside of your pipes. In order to move this water away from your home, turn on any spigots that are outside of your home. If you experience any clogs or backups during this process, try opening the drain with a plunger or another gentle method — NOT with any chemical cleaners, as this may cause even more harm.
#5: Get on the phone. Like we said above, giving a plumber a call is crucial once you have these main steps completed. People often forget to give a plumber a call during an emergency as they are so hyper-focused on the situation at-hand, but it truly is so important in order to prevent any major damage to your home. An experienced plumber can even help give you some initial help over the phone and let you know if a situation is too dangerous for you to handle on your own — and if they tell you to leave your home in the case of a major emergency, please listen to them, as it could potentially save your life.
In the case of a plumbing emergency, it is also important not to panic. Panicking often leads to people taking action that isn’t well thought-out and can ultimately end up causing even more costly and unnecessary damage. For high-quality plumbing services in the Lexington area, contact our team at Plumbing Solutions, LLC. We offer a variety of different plumbing services, and our team would be more than happy to help with any and all of your plumbing needs.