Not all plumbing problems have the common decency to occur during normal business hours. For some plumbing problems, that’s not a big deal. You can afford to wait for a plumbing appointment to fix a clogged drain in most cases. Some plumbing problems, though, can’t afford to wait. During a plumbing emergency, you need to act fast if you want to prevent much more damage from being done to your home. If a plumbing emergency occurs in your home, don’t panic. Follow the tips below to limit the damage as much as possible until a professional can arrive.
Step One: Turn Off the Water!
The biggest threat that most plumbing emergencies pose is that of inflicting water damage on other parts of the home. If you’ve ever had to pay for water damage remediation, you know how much it can cost. You’re going to want to limit the water damage that the problem can do before being repaired as much as possible, and the best way to do that is by turning off the water. If you have an automatic shutoff valve installed in your water line, you don’t need to worry about this step. The valve will close automatically. If you don’t have an automatic shutoff valve, you need to get to the annual shutoff valve as quickly as possible and close it. This should prevent any further damage while you wait for your plumber to arrive. It’s a good idea to know ahead of time where your shutoff valve is, as its location is not standardized from house to house. You don’t want to be running around looking for the valve while a ruptured pipe is turning your second floor into a swamp.
Clean Up The Area
Chances are, you’ve had at least some water that managed to spill into the surrounding area before you could turn off the water. Once the flow of water has stopped, you should do your best to clean up the area around the plumbing issue. Mop up whatever water you can, and remove anything from the area that you don’t want to become water damaged. This will have the added benefit of making it easier for your plumber to access the area when they arrive.
Call for 24-Hour Plumbing Service
Once you’ve turned off the water and mopped up the area, there’s little else you can do beyond call a professional that offers 24 hour emergency plumbing services. Not all plumbing contractors offer emergency plumbing services, so make sure that you find one you can trust to handle it for you. You don’t want to call your usual plumber in the middle of the night to deal with a burst pipe, only to find that they’re closed until the next morning. Make sure you find a plumbing contractor that will be there for you any time that you need them.
Total Comfort, Inc. offers 24-hour plumbing services in Santa Ana, CA. If you have a plumbing emergency you need dealt with, contact us today and we’ll help you out.