Causes Of Plumbing Emergencies And What To Do When They Occur

Causes of Plumbing Emergencies and What to do When They Occur

The worst nightmare of any homeowner is having a plumbing emergency. They can create havoc at your home and you may not know what to do at that time. You can take certain steps to minimize the problem or call and emergency plumber at the earliest to help you. 

Causes of Plumbing Emergencies

Plumbing emergencies are caused due to a variety of reasons. Some of them are listed below to help you realize that you need to do something about it, or call the emergency plumber ASAP:

a)    Clogged sinks or drains: When the drain or the sink refuses to drain out or drains out slowly, it could result in you having to call an emergency plumber. This is due to the fact that if the drain is clogged severely, the water flow may stop completely.

b)   Clogged toilet: When the toilet makes strange noises, refuses to flush or leaks, there is a possibility that an emergency plumber will be required.

c)    Clogged bathtubs and shower drains: These result in water rising to the ankles and in some cases there may be strange gurgling sounds heard. This is due to the buildup of hair and soap scum.

d)   Leaky faucets and toilets: These not only are annoying but they also increase the water bills, cause rust formation and foster the growth of mold.

e)    Leaking water heaters: When there is a leak to the hot water supply not only will you waste a lot of power on water heating but also it could cause property damage. In such cases, the valves can be replaced easily but if the valves of the heater have rusted, then a new water heater will be needed.

f)    Leaking washing machine hose: These sometimes crack or bulge behind the washer. If they are not attended to, it could lead to rust and mold.

g)   Burst pipes: Due to freezing and thawing, the pipes that are exposed burst in time and this would need the pipe to be replaced.

h)   No hot water: This happens when the heater malfunctions or there are issues with the electrical circuit or even plumbing leaks.

i)     Sewer system backup: These cause bad odors from clogged drains, toilets that gurgle and water which pools on the basement floor drains.

What to do During a Plumbing Emergency

The first step you could take is to call an emergency plumber at the earliest. However, you too could take some steps to minimize the damage done to your home. Here are tips and steps you could follow in addition to calling an emergency plumber, when you have a plumbing emergency:

a)    The main valve should be shut off in cases of leaks.

b)   The water heater should be turned off by switching the gas water heater switch to a pilot position.

c)    The isolation valves will stop the water flowing to the particular fixture while allowing the water to service the rest of the house when the leak is being attended to.

d)   If a supply tube has broken and is the problem which is causing the leak, a blind cap should be screwed in so the leak can be sealed off till it is fixed.

e)    When the ferrules in the supply tube are dented or scratched, there will be water leakage. In such cases, Teflon tape should be used till permanent repairs are undertaken.

f)    Duct tape or sealing tape for pipes can reduce the leak in the crack of a pipe. This however is a temporary measure.

g)   A cup plunger can be used for unclogging bath tubs, showers as well as sinks. Forced cup plungers are good for toilets or kitchen sinks.

h)   When the kitchen sink is unclogged, a second plunger should be used to cover the other drain and so more force is obtained to remove the clog.

i)     Toilets can be unclogged using a forced cup plunger.

Bathtub clogs can be removed by removing the chrome cap. When this is done the drain is visible and you can see the clog. Then you need to use the plunger to unclog, and the second plunger is used to plug the overflow of the tub.

These steps can be carried out when there is an emergency and when you cannot wait for the emergency plumber to arrive. However, meanwhile contact the emergency plumber so that he can check the plumbing for further issues and resolve it permanently and you can be care free.

Guest Contributor, Mary Mathis

How to Deal with Common Plumbing Emergencies

How to Deal with Common Plumbing Emergencies

Most home-owners shy away from problems connected to plumbing. However, unless you are faced with a pipe bursting, a massive sewage backup, a flooding or a broken water line, these emergencies are not as serious as you might think, and you can deal with them yourself. To learn how to fix the problem, here is how you can deal with the most common plumbing emergencies, without calling a professional.

Clogged Sink

Whether in your kitchen or bathroom, a serious clog in your sink can cause a complete stop to your daily activities. It is not a high-emergency situation, since you can turn off the faucet, but it will need your attention. A sink clog can be caused by numerous substances, most notably by mildew, soap scum and food particles. If you notice a slow drain, you can make a homemade drain cleaner to get rid of the clog. However, in severe cases, you will need to unscrew the pipe from the drain and de-clog the pipes manually.

Clogged Bathtub or Shower Drain

Soap scum and hair buildup can are also the most common causes of clogged bathtub and shower drains. If you notice the water rising during a shower, or notice strange sound as the water recedes, you are faced with a clog. Use the same de-clogging solutions as with a sink clog, and if the problem persists call a specialist who can dismantle the tub and fix the clog properly.

Clogged Toilet

A toilet making strange noises, refusing to flush, or water leaking from the toilet tank or bowl, are all signs that your toilet might be clogged. In case this happens, you should use a plunger to push the blockage out of the pipe, repeating the action until you resolve the clog. A clogged toilet can lead up to structural damage and raw sewage backups, so when you get the chance, contact your local plumber.

Leaky Faucet

Leaky faucets or toilets hasten the growth of mold and development of rust in pipes, suggests a Sydney-based emergency plumber, so you should address one such issue promptly since it can damage the entire pipe system. Additionally, it can also take a substantial share of your annual water bill. To deal with the problem, use a wrench to tighten every pipe and bolt. If the faucet continues to drip, you will probably need to replace the seat washer in your faucet handle or faucet.

Leaky Water Heater

A leaky water heater is yet another plumbing problem that lose you money. The leak causes the heater to continue using both water and power to heat up the new flow of water. A cause to the leak can come from a leaky water heater valve. If the problem is not fixed, you will need to purchase a new water heater. Keep in mind, that this is a better investment than wasting money on unused heated water.

Leaky Washing Machine Hose

Albeit, the washing machine is a long-lasting, reliable appliance, the hose is usually made from rubber or plastic and does not have the same properties. First off, check all the connections between the hose, machine and water supply are tightly hooked up. If the problem is not fixed, inspect the entire length of the hose for cracks or bulges. Rust and mould are also good indicators where the leak comes from. To fix it, stop using your machine and upgrade your washing machine hose as soon as possible.

Whenever there’s a plumbing problem you are unsure of, you should contact your local professional plumber. However, you should also remember that some plumbing emergencies are easy fixes, and all you need to do is roll up your sleeves to get the job done.

Guest Contributor, Lillian Connors