Need An Emergency Plumber? Common Plumbing Emergencies And What You Should Do | Newark, IL
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No one truly wants to think about how to deal with a plumbing emergency. However, if you don’t follow the right advice, you could end up making the situation much worse when an emergency arises. Some of the most frequent reasons that Newark, IL homeowners contact an emergency plumber are:
- Clogged sinks, bathtubs, and shower drains
- Clogged toilets
- Leaking faucets, showers, and bathtub plumbing
- Sewage backups
- Burst pipes
- Broken main water lines
- Frozen pipes
Particularly as colder weather is approaching, now more than ever, emergency plumbers are dealing with frozen or burst pipes.
How You Can Assist Your Emergency Plumber
The reality is, most Newark, IL homeowners will need to deal with a scenario that requires an emergency plumber more often than they’d like. Sometimes, it’s a minor plumbing issue. Other times, it can be a large-scale emergency that is incredibly stressful and expensive to fix. Regardless of the scale, some of the following tips can help you to deal with plumbing emergencies as and when they arise:
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Shut off the nearest water source.
One of the most practical things you can do when your home’s plumbing is experiencing issues is to locate the nearest water valve and shut it off to stop the flow of water from making the situation worse. In small-scale scenarios that require a plumber, e.g., a blocked sink, you can shut off the local valve. You can usually find sink valves near or beneath the drainpipe. Toilet shut-off valves typically sit behind the bowl or at its base.
In large-scale emergencies, such as home flooding, you should turn off the main water valve that services your home. If you don’t know where it is, don’t fret! A plumber can help you find it. The primary shut-off valve is the biggest valve you’ll typically see in or around your home, as it’s attached to the main delivery pipe, and it usually sits outside the home. In some cases, you’ll find it just inside the property. In either case, it usually lines up with the water meter located out on the sidewalk – so if you know where that is, search a linear path from that point.
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Open outdoor spigots and empty pipes.
Even though you’ve shut off the main water valve, or valve located nearest to the problematic plumbing fixture, you might want to open the outdoor spigots too. All shutting off the main water valve will do is stop further water from entering your home. Water that’s already inside your pipes could still leak into your home and cause unnecessary damage that an emergency plumber will require more to fix.
Indoors, open all the faucets to help drain water that will otherwise sit stagnant in the pipes (or, in the case of a leak, add more water to the mix). Opening all faucets is especially useful if a breakage in water lines supplying the property is causing the leak.
To help remove water from your home, you can also open outdoor spigots. If there’s a hose hooked up in your front- or backyard, you can either detach it or open the sprayer and squirt it a few times to ensure it’s free of water.
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Check and turn off nearby electrical appliances.
Another thing you can do to prepare for a plumber’s arrival, once you can guarantee that no more water should be entering your home, is turn off nearby electrical water-based appliances. If your sink leak is happening close to a washing machine, for example, turn the washing machine off too – even if you’re sure this appliance isn’t the suspect of your emergency.
One fixture, in particular, the water heater, should be shut down. Water heaters can build up quite a lot of heat, putting your heater at risk of either bursting or overheating. Note: if you’ve got a gas-fuelled water heater, please turn off the gas supply before powering down the unit.
It’s also worth doing a cursory inspection of all areas of your home to see if there are additional areas that a plumber may need to address.
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Call an emergency plumber.
A crucial step in any water-related emergency is calling in the experts. The earlier you contact an emergency plumber, the quicker it’s possible to resolve an issue. It’s all too easy to get caught up in damage control, but remember to call the plumber ASAP. Try to call them before attempting damage control!
The quicker you call, the fewer damages and costs may occur. Plumbers can provide advice over the phone before they attend to your issue, so make sure to follow any instructions they provide and do what you can to avoid any escalations of the plumbing emergency before the cavalry arrives.
Damage Control
After you’ve shut down everything you need to before a plumber arrives, it’s time to consider damage control. Removing as much water as you can surrounding easily identifiable leaks will create a safer working environment for the plumber when they arrive. In addition, it will help to avoid long-term damage to flooring, walls, etc.
Containing the leak can be as simple as wrapping rags or towels around the pipe, or using plumber’s tape, as an emergency measure. However, a plumber will need to apply a permanent fix.
Contacting Just In Time
Just In Time is a full-service contractor fully equipped to deal with a wide variety of emergencies, including issues with your home’s plumbing, heating, and air conditioning. Whether it’s a sewer and drainage problem or a widespread leak, our certified plumbers have the tools and experience to diagnose and repair plumbing emergencies ASAP.
You can contact a Just In Time emergency plumber to undertake various tasks, including:
- Drain rodding and clogged drain clearance
- Leak detection and repair
- Kitchen and bathroom faucet repairs
- Water heater repairs
- Water line repair and re-routing
- Water pipe repair and replacement
We can even help you winterize pipes and add insulation to help deal with any upcoming cold snaps. Call us at Just In Time to arrange for an emergency plumber to attend your Newark, IL home, or use our schedule request form to get a quote and start preparing for routine maintenance to help avoid future emergencies.