Every property owner will deal with a plumbing emergency at some point. There are a few homeowners lucky enough to rarely experience one, while others are lucky if they make it through a week without having to make repairs or replacements to their plumbing. Regardless of where you fall on the spectrum, taking the time to learn how to act during a plumbing emergency is extremely valuable.
Sewer pipes relining Sydney owner Dave Small knows that plumbing emergencies happen when you least expect them. In these situations, an ounce of preparation can save you from a lot of major headaches down the road.
Plumbing emergencies can be stressful, but the following tips will help you manage the situation better.
Stop The Leak, If Possible
Whether you are dealing with a leaking pipe, toilet, sink, tub/shower fixture (i.e., faucet), or garbage disposal, the first thing you need to do is turn off the water supply coming into your home. Toilets are convenient because they have their shut-off valve on the wall behind them, while sinks and tubs/showers use a larger shut-off valve that is located underneath or above them, respectively. If you are unlucky enough to not have access to either of these valves, then turn off any nearby water heaters to stop more of your property from being damaged by water. Garbage disposals are connected directly to the dishwasher drain line, so simply turning the washing machine on will work for this purpose as well.
Do Not Panic
People get understandably freaked out whenever their house springs a leak, but panicking will only make the situation worse. It is important to stay calm and think through your options to determine the best course of action.
Remove Small ObjectsÂ
If you dropped some coins or other small objects down your sink or toilet, they might have fallen into the drain pipe. In this case, it might be worth removing them by hand if you have gloves available for this purpose (i.e., rubber kitchen gloves). If not, try using a plunger over the object in question to fish it out of its current location. For toilets, simply plunge the water deep within the bowl while holding onto both sides of the handle for leverage.
Unclog Drains The Natural WayÂ
If you are looking for an alternative to using harmful chemicals in your drains, try filling up an old (empty) bottle with hot water and salt instead. Then, pour it into your clogged drain and follow with a blast of hot water; the resulting mixture will help to soften any buildup and allow you to flush it away without depleting your wallet.
Turn Off Your Water Heater
If you have a water heater that is leaking profusely or has completely exploded, then immediately turn it off at the switch located near its base. If you are unable to do so because it is already submerged in water, try turning on some nearby faucets strictly for the drainage until you can safely access the switch.
Call Your Plumber Of Choice
Once you have taken care of your immediate property damage and have successfully addressed your leaky fixture(s), it is time to call a plumber and explain exactly what happened. Make sure to bring them over to give an estimate on the cost of repairs, which you should expect to be relatively expensive due to how much work they will need to do. For example, even if only one section of pipe is leaking, the entire length will need replacing due to its extremely corroded condition. Regardless, make sure to shop around for the best deal possible because repairing pipes can get pricey!
Keep Track Of The CauseÂ
For future reference, take some time to figure out what caused the specific piece of plumbing you were working on to fail. This may not have been obvious at the time, but if you keep an eye out for signs of corrosion or other forms of damage, it will help you to identify potential problems before they arise again.
