When Do I Need Emergency Plumbing?

How do I know it’s an emergency?

As mentioned before, any plumbing repair could potentially become an emergency, especially if your property or your health is at risk. Here are some other things to take into consideration:

• Can it wait? In general, the potential for property damage–burst pipes–or health risks–sewage backup–should be considered. At the same time, a clogged toilet on a holiday could prove an emergency. Flushing a severely clogged toilet, for instance, can cause pipes to burst or crack.
• Is it your responsibility? People living in rental properties are usually not responsible for calling plumbing professionals. Emergencies are usually handled by property managers. However, you might have to make the call–and pay for the repair–if the potential for immediate damage is high. Check with your property manager beforehand to find out what to do in this situation.
• Can the water be turned off? One way to quickly stave off potential damage is to shut off the water. This might allow you to wait until the next day to get a plumber out when daily rates apply. Of course, shutting off the water might not be feasible or possible, depending on the situation.

Any of these circumstances depend on the situation and may require you to make quick decisions in a stressful situation. When in doubt, it might be best to go ahead and make the call. A plumbing professional might even be able to give you advice over the phone to make a temporary fix.

Is a leaking water pipe an emergency?

You might have an emergency plumbing repair on your hands if you discover a pipe leak. Leaks need to be taken care of as soon as possible because of the potential for further damage. If you can’t reach an emergency plumber in time, take the time to shut the water off or call your utility company to shut the water off.

A temporary fix, if the leak isn’t too severe, is using pipe tape. This a special tape for plumbing and other tapes like duct tape shouldn’t be used for this type of temporary repair.

To make the repair, you stretch the tape around the pipe while wrapping the pipe. The tape should be overlapped so it bonds to itself. This will create a watertight seal. This method can be great for emergency plumbing repair.

In certain places, plumber’s putty can be used to make the repair but it should not be used in conjunction with tape.

What is the first thing to do when you have a burst pipe?

As with any sort of leak, shutting off the water is key to preventing further damage. When the water supply is shut off, it also means you have to deal with the water that’s currently in the pipes. Keep the water off until a plumber tells you it’s OK to turn it back on.

One fortunate thing about a burst pipe is that it is often covered by homeowner’s insurance. Check the policy to make sure this is true and in what cases it is not covered. Any negligence on your part might void the policy’s terms and conditions.

How do you avoid a plumbing emergency?

Preventative maintenance is often the key to avoiding emergencies. This could be as simple as wrapping outdoor pipes and opening cabinets to keep pipes from freezing when the mercury drops.

Even just keeping an eye out for leaks around faucets or sinks can prevent worse problems in the future. Anytime you notice a leak, you want to act quickly because leaks can cause further damage fairly quickly. Find the water shut-off valve when you discover a leak and get in touch with a plumbing professional.

What is the most common plumbing repair?

Plumbers face a variety of repairs every day. Here are some of the most common:

• Dripping faucets
• Leaking pipes
• Running toilets
• Leaky hose bibs
• Low water pressure
• Slow or clogged drains
• Water heater repair
• Sump pump repairs

How do you find an emergency plumber?

If you don’t have a regular plumber, you can find an emergency plumber in several ways. Check with family, friends, neighbors, or co-workers. You can also look on social media or search Google to find a local plumbing professional. Keying in “emergency plumber near me” is a good way to start a search on Google.

Even in an emergency, try to check several plumbers in the listings or look to the experts at The Happy Plumber Company. We can be reached at (719) 426-6030. All our plumbing professionals are licensed and customer-centered.

With any plumber you get, you want to make sure they are licensed and certified and have a great reputation among their customers. You will also want to find out how they charge and whether they charge extra for emergency or after-hours services. Most plumbers offer emergency services but some might only be available during standard business hours. Typically, plumbers charge hourly rates but some will charge flat rates or a combination of the two.