What should you do in a plumbing emergency? The first thing is to not panic! This will only make the situation worse. Second, you should turn off the water in your home through your main shut-off. This will help prevent further damage. Once you have turned off the water call your Seattle Emergency Plumber to come and assess the situation. They will have the training and experience to handle the problem quickly and efficiently. Finally, follow any instructions they give you. This will help ensure that the issue is resolved as quickly as possible and that your home is protected from further damage. Learning how to handle a plumbing emergency will give you the control you need to protect your home and get plumbing service much faster.
Imagine waking up in the middle of the night to a strange noise coming from your bathroom. You flip on the light to find water gushing out from under your sink. Or maybe you step into your basement to do some laundry only to find an inch of water covering the floor. These are both plumbing emergencies that would require you to call an emergency plumber for help.
In general, you should call a plumber any time you come across water damage with an undefined source or when you encounter a plumbing problem that you aren’t 100% sure of how to handle. However, the severity of your specific situation can vary greatly. Here in Seattle, we are especially susceptible to plumbing emergencies caused by heavy rains and flooding. If you have any reason to believe that your home is at risk of flooding, it’s important to take action immediately and contact your local plumber.
Don’t wait until a plumbing emergency strikes to find out who you should call for help. Do some research ahead of time and find a reputable plumbing company in your area that you can trust. That way, if an emergency does occur, you’ll know exactly who to call for fast, professional help.
Some of the plumbing emergencies you read about, or even experience can be prevented. Problems may arise all of the sudden, but they’re often the result of long-term use or improper homemade repairs.
People spend a lot of time in their bathrooms and kitchens, and that means certain habits can quickly compound. Here are a few plumbing emergency prevention tips for your kitchen and bathroom:
- Don’t put anything other than toilet paper in the toilet. This includes wipes, sanitary napkins, and condoms. They don’t break down like toilet paper and will cause a blockage. If you have small children, teach them early not to put anything other than toilet paper in the toilet.
- Be careful what you put down your sink drain. Many people assume that everything will just go down the drain without incident, but that’s not always the case. Grease, coffee grounds, and eggshells can all cause problems further down the line. A good rule of thumb is to only put things down the drain that would dissolve in water.
- Don’t use chemical drain cleaners on a regular basis. These are harsh chemicals that can eat away at your pipes, causing long-term damage. If you do use one, be sure to follow the directions carefully and flush your pipes with plenty of water afterward. If you have a plunger handy, it’s often just as effective and far less damaging to your pipes.
The kitchen is another common source of plumbing emergencies. Again, be careful what you put down the sink drain; grease and coffee grounds can cause problems. - If you have a garbage disposal, don’t assume it can handle anything and everything. Avoid putting hard objects such as bones or glass down the disposal; they can damage the blades.
- Be careful what you put in your garbage disposal; some things should never go in there such as grease, oil, eggshells, rice, pasta, beans, and celery stalks.
A slow sink drain is often a sign that there’s something caught in the trap underneath; if plunging doesn’t work, you may need to remove the trap (be sure to shut off the water first) and fish out whatever is clogging it up before replacing it. Bathrooms and kitchens see a lot of activity which means they’re also more likely to experience plumbing emergencies. By following these simple tips, you can help prevent many common problems—and save yourself a call to Wezee’s Plumbing.