What to Do in a Plumbing Emergency.

Not all plumbing emergencies are created equal.  Some are certainly more serious than others, especially those involving a suspected gas or carbon monoxide leak.

And yet, doesn’t the very term “emergency” depend on some pretty subjective factors like, for example, what kind of mood you’re in when the problem occurs and your ability (or lack thereof) to handle even one more ounce of stress?  In a situation like that, a clogged toilet could become an intolerably pressing plumbing emergency to you, and we completely understand that.

Still, even before you pick up the phone to report your problem – emergency or otherwise – there are certain things you can do to help minimize the potential for damage and stabilize the situation until professional help arrives.

Just for you own peace of mind, you might want to bookmark or print this page for future reference and, for that matter, share it with friends and family if you feel they can profit from the same knowledge.

Burst or broken pipes.

• Shutoff your main water supply valve. If you don’t know where it is, find out now.
• Open the faucets in your home (and the spigots outside) to drain the remaining water from your pipes and relieve any pressure in the lines.
• Use towels or buckets to catch any remaining leaks.

Gas leaks.

• If you have a gas water heater and you smell gas in your home, open all the windows and doors and evacuate your family immediately.
• From a safe distance, call the plumber and your gas company.

Clogged drains or toilets.

• Turn off the water supply valve for that specific fixture. If you can’t for any reason, shut off the main water supply valve.
• Try plunging or snaking the drain or toilet.
• If that doesn’t work, we recommend using a combination of baking soda, white vinegar, and boiling hot water to help clear your drain. Start with ½ cup of baking soda followed by ½ cup of white vinegar.  Let that sit for about 30 minutes and then pour a tea kettle full of boiling hot water down the drain.  Don’t get discouraged if it doesn’t work on the first try as it can take up to three applications to do the job.

At Your 1 Plumber, responding to plumbing emergencies – large and small – is all in a day’s work for us.  Having one now?  Then go ahead and go call us so we can solve it much sooner than later.  Also, keep the following in mind:  if you’d like to prevent future plumbing emergencies, contact us to schedule a whole-house plumbing inspection.  It’s like a strong dose of preventive medicine for your plumbing systems and fixtures, and a great way to minimize your plumbing repair costs.