Avoiding Electrical Shock During Plumbing Problems

When a pipe bursts, your drains backup or a major leak occurs with your plumbing, it can cause serious risks to your home. Water and mold damage can cause extensive damage to your home, but there is a more pressing risk to your health. Plumbing leaks can put you and your family at risk for electrical shock. Know how to handle plumbing problems to protect your family from risk of injury caused by electrical shock.

Everyone knows electricity and water are a dangerous combination. When a plumbing problem leaks water into your home, it is important to understand the risk for electrical shock. Even a small leak can create a electrical shock risk that can cause serious injury and even death. If the floor is wet, or water gets inside an electrical fixture like a ceiling fan or outlet, it can pose a risk of shock.

What to Do if You Have a Plumbing Leak

It is best not to risk the chance of electrical shock if you have a plumbing leak in your home. Even touching a light switch that has been affected by the water leak can cause a shock. If you can access your fuse box, shut off power to the rooms affected to protect against shock. Also shut off the main water valve to your home to prevent further water leaks in your home. Then, make a call to your local plumber company for an emergency plumbing repair.

Never try to remedy a major plumbing leak yourself. Electrical shock is a real danger whenever water is leaking into your home. Call a professional to protect yourself from injury and your home from additional damage when you have a plumbing problem.

Posted on behalf of:
Metro Septic LLC
1210 N Tennessee St
Cartersville, GA 30120
(404) 973-2471

What to Do When a Plumbing Pipe Bursts

Water flows through the walls, floors and ceilings of your home day and night, usually without a drop of water escaping the pipes of your plumbing. But, plumbing is not infallible, and these pipes can leak or burst, causing extensive damage to your home. When a pipe breaks or springs a leak, you need to act fast to reduce the water damage. Knowing what to do can help you react quickly if you ever come home to a plumbing pipe emergency in your home.

Shut the Water Off

When you discover a leak or broken pipe, the first thing you need to do is shut the water off. For some fixtures and appliances, there may be a localized shut off valve you can use. Most sinks, toilets, washing machines and water heaters will have a shut off valve, but you can always use the main shut off valve for the home.

Call the Plumber

Find a local plumber that offers emergency service and give them a call. Many have 24/7 emergency service, so you can get the help you need any time of day or night.

Soak Up the Water

While you wait for the plumber to arrive, soak up as much water as you can to reduce the damage to surfaces. Be careful if there is extensive flooding – electrical shock can occur if any appliances are touching the wet floor.

Acting fast in a plumbing emergency can reduce the amount of water that flows into your home and help minimize water and mold damage. Keep a reputable local plumber on speed dial so you have a reliable professional to call when you need them.

Posted on behalf of:
Kiddco Plumbing, Inc.
106-M Oakgrove Road
Sterling, VA 20166
(703) 435-4441

How to Prevent Common Plumbing Emergencies

No one wants to call a plumber for an emergency repair. Clogged drains, busted pipes and water heater leaks can cause extensive problems and damage in your home. Yet, many of these issues can be prevented with proper plumbing maintenance. Here are a few tips to prevent these common plumbing emergencies.

  • Clogged drains. Clogs are caused by items that go down the drain that adhere to the inside of your pipes. Not allowing these items to go down your drains is the best way to prevent clogs. In the kitchen, avoid putting grease, fibrous peels, egg shells and coffee grounds down the drain. In the bathroom, use drain strainers and avoid flushing non-biodegradable items.
  • Busted pipes. You may not be able to prevent all busted pipes, but those that burst due to freezing temperatures can be prevented. Insulating pipes in garages, crawl spaces and outdoor faucets can help prevent freezing in unexpected cold weather that can lead to a plumbing emergency.
  • Water heaters. Tank water heaters have been the source of many plumbing emergencies. Leaking tanks can cause extensive water damage in homes. Keeping your water heater maintained to prevent tank corrosion and leaks can help prevent these issues. Another option is investing in a tankless water heater that doesn’t hold hundreds of gallons of water that can flood your home.

Using preventive measures can help reduce the chance of a plumbing emergency. But when a leak or clogged pipe occurs, make sure to get the help you need as quickly as possible to avoid more damage to your home by calling a professional plumber for your emergency.

Posted on behalf of:
Bynum & Sons Plumbing, Inc.
2120 McDaniels Bridge Rd SW
Lilburn, GA 30047
(770) 884-4678

How to Find Your Water Shut-Off Valve

If you had a burst water pipe gushing water into your home, would you know how to shut off the water quickly? Every homeowner – and even renter – should know how they can stop the water flow in their house in an emergency. In less than a half an hour, hundreds of gallons of water could be in your home, causing extensive damage to your belongings and house. Here is how to find the water shut-off valve in your home to prepare you in case of a plumbing emergency.

First, you should know there may be several water shut-off valves in your home. Each sink may have its own valve under the sink so you can stop water flowing to the sink while replacing fixtures. Your toilets may also have their own valves – if your toilet is continuing to run and overflow or a sink’s faucet springs a leak, you can shut off the water right at the source.

However, if a pipe bursts in a wall, you want to shut off all water to the home. This is the main shut-off valve to the home. This will stop all water coming into your home from your city water line or your well. This valve is typically located wherever the main water line comes into the home. It may be under the home in a crawl space or basement, but should be easy to reach. It can also be in a garage or by the water heater in homes without crawl spaces or basements.

It is important to know where your shut-off valves are located. If a plumbing emergency occurs, turn off the water and call your local plumber to avoid any unnecessary damage to your home and property.

Posted on behalf of:
Bynum & Sons Plumbing, Inc.
2120 McDaniels Bridge Rd SW
Lilburn, GA 30047
(770) 884-4678

Why You Need an Emergency Plumber

The worst time to choose a plumber is during a plumbing emergency. When you have a broken water pipe or a sewer backup into your home, you do not have time to do the necessary research to vet a plumber. The best approach is to choose an emergency plumber that you can trust before a plumbing emergency occurs. For most homeowners, it is not if, but when, they will need to call a plumber. Here is why you need to have an emergency plumber on speed dial and how to choose the right one.

For one, not all plumbers offer emergency service. They may advertise they handle plumbing emergencies, but that does not mean they will be available at two o’clock in the morning when you find a broken water pipe. You want to ensure that the emergency plumber you choose is available 24/7, 365 days a year. Even if it is Thanksgiving Day or another major holiday, you want to know your plumber will be there when you need them the most.

You need a plumber you can trust, an experienced, reputable company that will handle your plumbing emergency quickly and affordably. Having an emergency plumber can give you peace of mind when the inevitable plumbing issue occurs. Knowing the crisis will be handled and you will not get any unexpected surprises when it comes time to pay the bill can help reduce the stress of an emergency plumbing problem.

When choosing your emergency plumber, make sure to check their credentials. How long have they been in business? Are they licensed and insured? Do they handle both plumbing and sewer/septic emergencies? Do your research when you have time to do it right; then, put their number in your phone so when you have a plumbing problem, your emergency plumber is right there at your fingertips.

Posted on behalf of:
Metro Septic LLC
1210 N Tennessee St
Cartersville, GA 30120
(404) 973-2471

Do You Know Where to Find Your Plumbing Shut-off Valve?

A plumbing emergency can happen at any time. If you have a burst water pipe or one of your faucets starts spurting water, do you know how to turn off your water flow? If you don’t, a small plumbing emergency can turn into a large home repair. Water is constantly flowing into your pipes and plumbing throughout your home. If there is a break or other issue that water will keep flowing into your home, possibly causing thousands of dollars in damage, unless you shut off the main water valve.

Most homes have plumbing that has several shut-off valves and one main valve. The individual valves can be to larger water appliances like your toilet, washer and water heater. You may also have separate valves under your kitchen or bathroom sink. These can be used to shut off water to these fixtures when you need to do a repair or replace parts, or in case of a plumbing failure. Simple turn the valve to the off position and the water is stopped for that area.

When a pipe bursts or no shut-off valve is available, you need to turn off the water at the main pipe entering your home. If you have city water, this will usually be located at the front of your house or on the side nearest your water meter. For homes will wells, the main shut-off valve should be wherever the main pipe enters the home from the well.

The first thing you should do in a plumbing emergency is shut off the water to the fixture or use the main shut-off valve for the home. Then, call your local plumber for an emergency repair.

Posted on behalf of:
Seagraves Plumbing Sewer & Septic
4980 Plant Atkinson Rd SE
Smyrna, GA 30080
(494) 792-2221

When Is a Plumbing Problem an Emergency?

Not all plumbing issues require you to call your local plumber in the middle of the night for emergency service. A small drip under the sink can wait until morning, as can a clogged sink drain. However, there are some plumbing problems that are true emergencies – waiting will cost you more than making that emergency call to your plumber. Here are a few plumbing issues that should have you running for your phone as soon as you see them.

  • A burst pipe. A burst pipe, whatever the cause, needs emergency care. Often this is caused by an unexpected freeze or old pipes. Shut off your main water valve and call your plumber right away to get this issue resolved.
  • Sewer backup. A clogged toilet is one thing; a sewer backup is a completely different animal. When all your drains begin to backup, you most likely have a major sewer pipe problem. While you probably will not need to call your plumber in the middle of the night, it should be the first call you make in the morning. You may have a broken or clogged sewer line, making all your plumbing useless until it is fixed.
  • Water heater leak. If you have a tank water heater, there is always a chance that it could spring a leak, allowing hundreds of gallons of water loose in your home. This can quickly add up to thousands of dollars in water and mold damage, much less the expense of replacement. Want to avoid this emergency all together? Invest in a tankless water heater and you will never have this problem.

Never try to fix a true plumbing emergency yourself. More often than not, DIY fixes end up costing more money down the road. Call in an expert and get your emergency resolved by a professional.

Posted on behalf of:
Metro Septic LLC
1210 N Tennessee St
Cartersville, GA 30120
(678) 873-7934

Handling a Plumbing Emergency

It is easy to take your plumbing for granted. You can go years without having any major issues with your pipes, drains or other plumbing fixtures. However, when a plumbing emergency happens, you need to act fast to minimize the damage. Beyond the cost of fixing your plumbing, a water or sewer leak can cause thousands of dollars of water damage to your home or business, plus lead to dangerous mold issues. Here are a few tips on handling a plumbing emergency to limit the cost and damage to your property. 

Turn Off Water

If you have a burst pipe or major leak, you need to shut off your water supply. You can turn off the main water valve to stop all water from coming into the home or turn it off at the source. Most toilets, sinks, washers and other plumbing spots have individual valves that can be switched off.

Protect Your Family

Water on floors can put your family at risk of injury. Slips, falls and electrical hazardous are all aspects to consider. Keep your family and pets away from the danger zone; for major flooding or sewer leaks, it is best to have everyone evacuate the building.

Call Your Trusted Plumber

Don’t wait for a plumbing emergency to pick a plumber that you can call 24-hours a day. Keep their number handy and call them right away when you have a leaking pipe, backed up drain or other major plumbing issue. Make sure the plumbing company you choose is available 365 days a year and have plumbers that can come out any time, day or night.

No one wants a plumbing emergency but when one occurs, you can minimize the cost and damage by being prepared. Have your local plumber on speed dial and act fast when the unexpected happens.

Posted on behalf of:
Kiddco Plumbing Inc
Sterling, VA
(703) 435-4441

Don’t Wait for a Plumbing Emergency

Have you ever ignored a plumbing annoyance, just to have it turn into a plumbing emergency? If not, you are one of the lucky ones. It happens all the time. A toilet that frequently becomes clogged is plunged and handled as-needed, but never fixed. Then it overflows, creating a nasty mess, possible water damage and contaminating the home. Now, not only is there a plumbing emergency, it will cost much more to fix than if it had been repaired when the issue first started. Don’t let a small plumbing issue turn into a plumbing emergency. Here are a few common issues that should be fixed as soon as possible:

  • Leaking pipes. Under many kitchen or bathroom sinks is a bucket catching a drip. That drip will only get worse. Don’t wait for the pipe to burst or the seal to completely give way – call a plumber to have it repaired.
  • Clogged drains. Just like the toilet situation, if you have a drain that constantly becomes clogged, you should have it inspected. There may be a major issue that is causing the drain to back up, or you just need a professional drain cleaning.
  • Plumbing noises. Is there banging in your pipes or is your water heater making strange noises? Don’t ignore these signs that you may have issues in your plumbing. You could come home to a burst pipe or a water heater tank that has leaked hundreds of gallons of water into your home.

It is always best to be proactive when you have a plumbing issue. It will cost you less to have the issue fixed than to wait for an expensive plumbing emergency.

Posted on behalf of:
Metro Septic LLC
1210 N Tennessee St
Cartersville, GA 30120
(678) 873-7934

5 Common Plumbing Emergencies

There is a reason that many plumbers offer 24-hour emergency service; when you have a plumbing emergency, it can’t always wait until Monday morning. Plumbing emergencies can quickly become very expensive problems, with water damage, mold issues and the inconvenience of being without your water supply. Here are five of the most common reasons plumbers get called in the middle of the night for a plumbing emergency.

  1. Burst pipe. Whether a pipe just gives out or freezing weather causes a burst pipe, one of the most frantic calls plumbers receive is when a pipe bursts. Until it can be fixed, the water to the building must be shut off, so a plumber is needed ASAP.
  2. Clogged toilet. Some clogged toilets can’t be fixed with a plunger. If a toilet is backing up, it can cause a nasty mess that needs professional assistance right away.
  3. Gas leaks. One of the scariest problems that plumbers are called for is a gas leak. Many quality plumbers offer gas leak repair and are to go-to people to call in a gas leak emergency.
  4. Backed-up drains.  A slow drain in a sink isn’t an emergency; however, when all your drains are backing up, you need a plumber – quick! Backed up drains could mean a clogged or broken sewer pipe that needs immediate repair.
  5. Hot water heater problems. Whether you have no hot water or your old tank water heater is leaking gallons of water into your home, water heater problems are a definite plumbing emergency.

If you have a plumbing emergency, find a plumber that offers 365 day, 24-hour service to get the problem resolved right away. To make sure you don’t get charged more than necessary, find a reputable company that offers flat-rate service to make an unexpected plumbing emergency more affordable.

Posted on behalf of:
Metro Septic LLC
1210 N Tennessee St
Cartersville, GA 30120
(678) 873-7934