4 Common Plumbing Emergencies and How to Deal With Them 

As a homeowner, one of the inevitable problems you’ll have to face has to do with plumbing. They can be big or small, the former encompassing plumbing issues you can deal with on your own while the latter requiring help and assistance from expert plumbers. But whatever the problem is, one thing is for sure: plumbing issues can cause inconvenience.

If you’re lucky, your plumbing emergency won’t happen on a day that’s also just too hectic for you. But if it’s inconveniently timed, for instance, when you have to do emergency and weekend work, those plumbing issues can truly be a pain in the neck to deal with.

And it’s for this reason that it pays to learn how to troubleshoot plumbing issues while also having the contact number of a plumber you can call anytime.

Here are some of the most common plumbing emergencies and what you can do to solve them.

■ Clogged Sinks

Over time, the buildup of toothpaste, hair, shaving gels, and other liquids and creams may cause your bathroom sinks to get clogged. As for the kitchen, the main culprits are usually food particles and grease.

While it may be tempting to use store-bought de-clogging agents, you may want to stop yourself from grabbing one. Rather than be good for your drains, they may actually cause more harm. Drain-removing products are generally filled with harsh chemicals that aren’t good for your plumbing system and the environment.

To fix this, a better remedy is to use an old-fashioned plunger or a drain snake. Alternatively, you can also make use of kitchen ingredients such as vinegar and baking soda. If this doesn’t work, then that’s your cue to have professional drain cleaning services done by a plumber.

■ Pipes That Burst

When pipes burst, water comes out rapidly, which can be wasteful and bad for your budget. And when left unattended, you’ll eventually notice your water bill soar. Moreover, if the pipe is located in a closed room, it’s not long before the room will be flooded. This can be an even bigger problem to solve now, with furniture and other household items damaged.

The first thing homeowners should do is to shut off all water valves immediately. If the hole in the pipe is small, you can wrap duct or electrical tape around it or seal it with epoxy. While this isn’t a permanent repair, it can be good enough while waiting for the plumber’s next available schedule.

■ Heating No Longer Works

Everyone dreads those cold morning showers. This is perhaps one of the most compelling reasons why many households opt to have heating systems installed. If you live in a four-seasoned country, then the cold can get even worse during winter, so having hot water is now a necessity more than it is something merely for comfort.

With that, imagine the horror of waking up one morning not having hot water to serve you. For older homes, this may be a signal that your heating system has reached the end of its life, so it’s time for a replacement. Otherwise, you may have to call both a plumber and an electrician to check for any defects in your home’s electrical and plumbing system that could be affecting your hot water supply.

Some other common culprits affecting your supply of hot water include:

• Corrosion and rust, given how water heaters are only as good as their enclosures;

• Inadequate pressure and size, like if you’ve increased your water consumption and number of toilets but your tank and heaters are meant only to power the old water usage;

• Sedimentary buildup due to various minerals that settle on the bottom of the tank.

■ Blocked Toilets

A common sign that your toilet is blocked is when water starts to overflow. Or perhaps, when you flush the toilet, the water goes up first before getting flushed. This usually happens when foreign objects, such as children’s toys, sanitary products, and baby wipes, among others, get flushed down. And in some cases, this could also be due to clogged or old pipes.

Similar to clogged drains, you can also use plumbing tools like a plunger for a quick fix. However, if it doesn’t work, it’s best to let the experts do it rather than attempt to unblock it on your own. This can be a big job to do, and if you make a mistake, it may also potentially lead to even more damage to your toilet.

Wrapping Up

When any of the plumbing emergencies above happens, your goal should be to reduce its damage and hopefully keep the problem under control.

This begins with a few quick and easy remedies you can do at home. However, when all else fails and when you’re unsure of what to do, that’s when calling plumbers comes into the picture. Leave it to the professionals to repair plumbing issues you can’t accurately do on your own.

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