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

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

Be Prepared For Plumbing Emergencies

When a plumbing emergency happens, you need to act fast to prevent further damage to your home. A burst pipe can quickly go from a fairly inexpensive fix to very costly water damage in your home. In a plumbing emergency, every second counts. Knowing how to handle these emergencies beforehand can save you hundreds, even thousands of dollars by allowing you to act quickly and effectively.

Plumbing Emergency Basics

There are many different types of plumbing emergencies, including clogged or backed up drains. However, the one that can do the most damage in the least amount of time is a burst pipe or broken water fixture. If water is spraying unchecked into your home, it can do extensive damage in a very short period. In such a situation, you need to know how to stop the flow of water as soon as possible.

  • Shut off the water supply. You need to know how to shut off the water supply to your home. This can be done two ways, either at the city water meter, which generally requires a plumbing key, or at the main water valve that is usually located where the water main enters the house.
  • Individual valves. In addition to the main water valve, there are several individual valves throughout your home. These can be under the sinks, behind toilets and near any major water appliance.

First and foremost, when a pipe bursts or a fixture is spraying water, cut off the water supply either to that particular area or to the whole home in order to prevent major damage while you await professional attention. The next step is to call your local plumbing professional to get the problem resolved. By being prepared, you can prevent a small problem for turning into a big expense with quick thinking.

Posted on behalf of Tony McAdams, A-1 National Sewer and Drain

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