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

What To Do In A Plumbing Emergency

No one wants or needs a plumbing emergency; however, they happen every day all across the country. A plumbing pipe bursts, a toilet overflows or a water heater begins to leak. Whatever the issue, when a plumbing emergency occurs, you need help right away. Not only is the plumbing the issue, but you may be in danger of serious water damage to your home or even personal injury. It is important that you act fast to contain the damage until the emergency plumbers arrive.

Shut Off The Water

Whenever you face a broken pipe or other source of water flowing into your home, you need to get the water shut off as quickly as possible. In some cases, you may be able to shut the water off at the source, like below a sink or behind the toilet. For larger broken pipes, you will need to shut the water off at the main. Everyone in your household should know how to turn off the water in these different spots. 

Beware Of Electricity

If water has accumulated in your home, you need to beware of electrocution. Standing water in the basement due to a leaking water heater or broken pipe can be very dangerous. You may need to turn off the power to your home to begin removing the water.  

Call Your Plumber

As soon as you have the water turned off and the situation contained, call your local plumber. You should have a reliable plumber who offers 24/7 emergency repairs for these major plumbing disasters. They can get the problem fixed so you can begin repairing any other damage which may have been caused by flooding or breakage. Any excess water needs to be removed with 24-48 hours to prevent further damage to your home from rot, mold growth and mildew.

Posted on behalf of Metro Septic and Plumbing

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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