Nobody’s looking forward to their next plumbing disaster, and it’s easy to forget about maintenance when things “just work.” But a plumbing emergency is serious business, and could have grave effects on both your health and your home. In fact, over 12 million Americans called a plumber more than three times in the last year. That’s a lot of plumbing emergencies!
Let’s look at some great ways to start getting prepared right now.
Your Emergency Plumbing Contact
Choose an emergency plumbing service like Plumbing Dynamics, using reviews and word of mouth to find the most reliable. You might even have them come out for a review of your home in advance of any trouble. Program your plumber’s contact info into your phone and write it down somewhere, like a kitchen drawer, making sure everyone knows where the plumber’s information is. When you need it, you will need it fast.
How to Shut Off Water
Know the two ways to shut off your water. If it’s clearly coming from a particular place or appliance, you can shut it off there and call the plumber. Most toilets and sinks have easy-to-find shutoff valves behind or underneath them.
There’s also a shut-off for your entire home. Ask your plumber to show you how and where to shut it off. In either case, call a plumber once you’ve stopped the flow.
Electrical and Contamination Dangers
Be wary of the dangers surrounding plumbing, particularly electric shock and harmful contamination. If your emergency is related to sewage in any way or the water seems discolored or smells funny, call a licensed plumber. Avoid touching the water if at all possible and stay out of the area until your plumber tells you it’s safe.
Pack a Plumbing Emergency Kit
Prepare a readiness kit in case you can’t shut off your home’s water valve or there’s already a leak or flood when you discover the problem: old towels, a mop and bucket, a shop-vac if you can afford it. Just remember to unplug any electronics in the area before you try anything.
Water Heater Maintenance
Get your water heater tank flushed out at least every three to six months to get rid of sediment, which can cause clogs and worse. If sediment isn’t your issue, you may need a plumber to replace the heating element.
Watch Those Drains
Keep drains flowing by disposing of grease, oil, coffee grounds, eggshells, and bones in the trash rather than the sink. These will not only jam your disposal but can also harm your pipes, which means expensive repairs. If you’ve got a challenging clog that doesn’t respond to drain cleaners, call your plumber because there could be a danger to your piping.
Frozen Pipes
Keeping your pipes insulated can save you from frozen and eventually burst pipes, which is serious and costly. You can tell your pipes are frozen if water doesn’t come out of the faucet. If you hear the temperature may drop below 40 degrees, let each faucet in the house trickle and open cabinets under the sinks for warmer air circulation.
Prepare for Safety with Plumbing Dynamics
Your plumbing is used more often than any other system in your house. That water runs all day and all night, and so do we. Plumbing Dynamics is a full-service plumbing company with over 25 years of experience. We have a broad and diverse base of plumbing knowledge, including our owner, who is a licensed Master Plumber. Whether you need emergency help with a burst pipe, water heater or clogged drain, count on Plumbing Dynamics’ accurate diagnosis and expert repairs.
