What To Do in a Plumbing Emergency

It is life-saving to know what to do in the event of a plumbing emergency in order to minimize damage and ensure the safety of your property and family. In this article, Economy Plumbing Service will provide advice on what steps should be taken when dealing with a plumbing emergency, including how to identify the problem, how to shut off the water supply, and how to contact a professional plumber for help. Being able to handle a plumbing emergency can help you save time, money, and stress.

What to Do in a Plumbing Emergency

Shut Off The Water Supply

When you encounter a leak in one of your faucets or water pipes, the first step you should take is to shut off the main valve to prevent anything from getting worse. The second step, you need to locate the leak. Is it coming from the toilet or the kitchen sink? When you find it, you should get to the connected shutoff valves and rotate them to the right (typically). When they do not move anymore, do not force them, as they can break and leave you in an even worse spot.

Check the Water Heater

The water heater is an appliance you want to consider in an emergency as left untouched, it may get or cause further damage. You should do it after shutting down the main water valve because otherwise, it carries the risk of bursting the overheated water. If it is a gas water heater, you must shut down the gas first.

Check Electrical Appliances

If a room is flooded with water caused by a leak, one of the most critical things to do is check if there is any electrical appliance near the water. If there is, you must not get near the water either, as it carries a significant risk of electrical shock. In that case, you should turn off the main circuit to prevent any accidents. You should be careful keeping everyone, especially children and pets, away from the water. 

Handle Minimal Leaks

Every homeowner should have basic plumber tools such as plumber’s tape in their toolbox to tackle small leaks. If you see a small leak and you do not have plumber’s tape in the house, you can stop it as soon as possible by using towels and rags to tuck around the pipes or buckets to put under the leaking area. Still, call your plumber right away if you need professional help afterward, and list these leaking spots to the professional so they can get right to work. 

Call a Professional

After shutting off the main valve, checking the water heater, and handling small leaks, you need to call a professional plumber for emergency services. You should listen to the instructions carefully and follow them until they arrive at your house. To stay calm and leave it to the expert, it is best to have a professional plumber’s number on your contact list beforehand. 

Dry Up Excess Water

If you find the leak too late, you will need to soak up the water to walk around the room. In this case, you must make sure that getting near the water is not risky (like we mentioned, look for any electrical appliances nearby), and then you can start drying up the excess water while waiting for the plumber to arrive. Use towels and rags to dry and limit the water on the floor. You can also use fans to speed up the dry-up and avert mold growth resulting from the excess moisture.

Contact Economy Plumbing Service

Economy Plumbing Service, our family-owned and operated business, has over 27 years of experience and provides replacement and installation on the same day! We offer plumbing installation, plumbing repair, leak detection, repiping, and much more services. You can contact us anytime for your plumbing emergencies!

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