There is never a good time to have plumbing problems, but when a plumbing emergency pops up, knowing what to do can help keep an ordinary emergency plumbing repair from turning into a plumbing disaster. Water flowing out of control in your home can quickly cause a lot of damage to your property including walls, ceilings, floors, carpets, furniture, and other personal property. In addition, if the problem involves untreated sewage you could have a serious health issue on your hands.
One of the most important things you can do is establish a relationship with a reputable local plumber. When water is gushing out of a broken pipe or sewage is backing up through your drains, you don’t have time to be checking references or calling friends and family for a referral. You want to have the number of a trusted plumber at your fingertips.
Do all your homework ahead of time and have the plumber come out for a routine job such as replacing a leaky faucet or clearing a clogged drain. Once you find a plumber you are happy with, program their number into your cell phone or keep it posted somewhere handy such as on the refrigerator.
Before you even call the plumber, contain or control the damage if possible. If you have an overflowing toilet, turn off the water supply by shutting off the valve located at the wall under the toilet tank. For broken or leaking pipes or fixtures, you can stop the water flow by turning off all of the water in the house. Most homes have shutoff valve located near where the water supply line enters the home. Locate this valve before you need it so you will know where it is when the time comes.
Once your plumber is on the way try to keep the damage to a minimum by mopping up spilled water with a mop or some towels. This will help prevent damage and make it easier for your plumber to get to work.
