Plumbing emergencies such as flooding and leaks don’t always respect the boundaries of 9 to 5. Most likely, your plumbing emergency will happen on a weekend or in the middle of the night. When that happens, you don’t have time to wait around for normal business hours. You need a plumber ASAP!
That’s where emergency plumbing services come in handy. But some issues aren’t as cut and dried as others. You may wonder: does this situation qualify as an emergency? Here’s when to call an emergency plumber, and when it’s probably OK to wait for regular business hours.
Risk of Flooding
Whenever there’s a potential for a flood in your home, it’s important to call a professional right away. Many things can cause flooding, from heavy rains to a burst pipe, resulting in inconvenient and expensive damage to flooring, furniture, insulation, wood framing and building materials. On top of that, water can short out the electrical system, not to mention water breeds mold if left unchecked.
Burst Pipes
When a pipe bursts under your sink or in the wall, don’t hesitate to call a plumber. Again, water can flood the area very quickly, causing structural and other damage to your home. Before calling them, be sure to turn off the water supply to minimize damage till they can get there. Your plumber will fix the pipe, but you’ll likely need water remediation services as well. Ask if they provide that services or can give you a referral.
Overflowing Toilet
Overflowing toilets pose a health and safety hazard because the water is probably contaminated with bacteria and viruses. Even if you can clear the initial blockage easily on your own, there may be other issues behind the scenes that need to be addressed so it doesn’t happen again.
Backed Up Sewer
Sewage contains waste products, and a sewer line backup spells bad news. Not only can it send waste and odors through your home, it can result in harmful fumes and pathogens that will quickly infiltrate the area. You probably won’t be able to run the water or use the bathroom facilities until this issue is addressed. A sewer backup is often caused by a blockage of some kind, a tree root, or busted pipe. A backed up sewer is an urgent matter that can’t wait till the next morning to be fixed.
Freezing Water in Shower
You go to turn on the shower, let it warm up, get in and are hit with a blast of icy cold water. This situation is most likely caused by a problem with your hot water heater. Check the unit’s breaker box and see if the pilot light on the gas heater has gone out. If you hear rattling sounds or can’t see any reason why the shower would be running cold, call a plumber. If you don’t need the hot water till the next day, you can put off a call till 9 a.m.
Clogged Drains
If you have a clogged drain, your go-to solution may be the plunger. This may work for small clogs, but sometimes, this solution does not work because the obstruction is so large. A lot can be going on behind the scenes, and if you try to unclog the toilet too many times with no success, you could be faced with rising water levels that quickly get out of control. For recurring clogs, call a plumber.
Contact L&P Plumbing LLC
Need an emergency plumber? Got an issues that can’t wait for regular business hours? No worries. Just contact us at 512-768-6973 and we can send someone right out.
