Plumbing emergencies are always harrowing experiences. Beyond the immediate stress and mess, there’s the risk of serious water damage and all the associated repair costs. When a plumbing emergency happens, remain calm and take these five steps to help mitigate damage, then call a qualified professional for help.
Shut Off the Main Water Line
In order to stop a flood of water in an emergency situation, it’s important to know the location of your main shutoff valve in advance. After you turn off that valve, shut off the supplies to any individual fixtures or appliances that are affected.
Turn Off the Water Heater
Once the main water valve is closed, excessive pressure can build up in a gas-fired water heater, or the water inside can overheat. To avert the danger of scalding and prevent the tank from bursting, turn off the gas to the unit and leave it off until the plumbing issue is resolved.
Open Outdoor Spigots
After shutting the main valve, go outside and open up the spigot on the hose bib. Doing so allows any water in the lines to drain outdoors and helps lower the risk of flooding and damage inside the home.
Locate Leak Sources
If you can identify the source of a water leak and it’s accessible, try to seal it using plumber’s tape or epoxy. This can work well as a temporary fix on loose pipe joints and similar leaks. If sealing it isn’t possible, wrap the leak with absorbent towels or rags, place a bucket underneath and keep mopping up accumulating water to limit potential damage.
Deal With Clogs
Some emergencies are caused by clogged drains that back up and overflow a single plumbing fixture. When this happens, get the water supply to the fixture shut off right away. Once that’s done, you can attempt to clear the blockage. If you decide to wait for a plumber, clean up any backed-up water to help prevent damage and avoid using connected fixtures until the problem is fixed.
Learn more about Pioneer Comfort Systems’ Shreveport emergency plumbers, or give us a call at 318-795-8000 for immediate help.