What to do in a Plumbing Emergency?
The worst thing about a plumbing emergency is that you never know when it’s going to expose itself! You can think you are prepared for anything, however if and when it does eventually occur, you find you’re not. You can do all you can to keep an eye out for warning signs, but more often than not, the warning signs are so subtle you don’t pick up on them. When fate decides to hand you a plumbing emergency, see our step by step guide on how to handle it!
What to do in a Plumbing Emergency?
Step 1: Get to your water shut-off valve
As fast as you can, get to your water shut-off valve and close it. This is most important as by doing this, you will stop the flow of water headed to your home, preventing any further water damage. It’s imperative that you know where the water shut off valve is at your property, so that in a situation like this, you’re not wasting time (and stress) trying to find it! We even recommend if you are renting, that you should be aware of where this shut-off valve is! See our post Plumbing Tips for Renters to find more tips.
Step 2: Attend all taps/faucets
Once the water shut-off valve has been closed, head back into your home and attend all taps/faucets to drain any excess water out of them. Turn all taps on; this will drain any excess water out to avoid any more damage to your property and it will also provide an indication as to whether you have successfully closed your water shut-off valve.
Step 3: Call a plumber
Grab your phone and find a local plumber to help you with this emergency. When in an emergency situation, it’s important to engage a reliable expert!
Step 4: Remove as much excess water as possible
People often associate emergency plumber with a pricey bill, which can unfortunately be true. To minimise water damage and repair costs, we recommend mopping up and trying to remove as much excess water as possible, as this will reduce resultant damages and mould growth. Grab some towels and make use of your time, whilst waiting for your plumber.
There are many types of Plumbing Emergencies that can occur.
Common Plumbing Emergencies
Overflowing toilet
When your toilet is overflowing, instead of running for you main shut-off valve, you can simply turn off the water valve connected to the toilet. This can be found behind the toilet, against the wall. If you cannot locate this, head over to the main shut-off valve.
Clogged Drain
All different types of drains in your property can clog within an instant; Shower drains, kitchen drains, laundry drains and toilets; they’re all capable of surprising you! You can equip yourself with a drain plunger and toilet plunger to give yourself the upper hand when a blocked drain occurs, however these may not be strong enough for a more dense blockage. When a denser blockage occurs, a drain snake has a greater likelihood of clearing the blockage. And if this doesn’t work… We suggest calling the professionals.
Hot Water Unit Issues
If you ever notice anything not quite right with your water heater, we recommend turning it off. These units are rather precious and only like to be handled by experts. One wrong move or alteration could be the difference between a $200 quick fix and replacing the whole unit for thousands of dollars.
Need a new hot water unit? See the difference between gas and electric units.
Plumbing emergencies can happen in the blink of an eye.
Knowing where the shut-off valve is, is imperative. This opens and shuts off the supply of water to your home. So in the case of an emergency, knowing where this is, is vital!
Best of luck if you are dealt with a plumbing emergency. Here at Gallant, we offer a 24 hour, emergency plumbing service to assist you at all hours of the day. 3pm in the afternoon or 3am in the morning, we will be there to help you with your emergency, no matter how big or small. For any plumbing issues, emergency or general, call us on 1300 830 956.