Plumbing Emergency? 5 Steps To Follow

We hope that the plumbing in our home will always work perfectly and that if we get it updated, checked and serviced enough, that no unexpected problems will occur. But no matter how diligent you are, the worst can still happen.

Some examples of emergency plumbing situations might be clogged toilets, blocked drains, burst pipes, leaking faucets and toilets, or issues with the sewer system.

A plumbing emergency can be an extremely stressful occurrence that leaves you wondering what you can do next. However, help is at hand! We have collected five simple steps that you can follow during a plumbing emergency to ensure that you get the help you need to solve the problem quickly and effectively.

1) Turn off the water source

One of the most important things you can do in a plumbing emergency is to turn off the water source as soon as possible. Shutting off the water should be easy in the case of kitchen sinks or toilets, as there are valves that you can turn off to avoid leaks.

However, if there is a water leak that impacts your entire house, you may need to locate and shut off the stop cock. This will cut off the water supply to your entire home and allow either you or your professional plumber to attend to the situation at hand.

If you are wondering where your stop cock is, now is the perfect time to find out! It is important to know this in advance of any emergencies occurring. This should be something you are made aware of when you buy your home, but if you don’t know – make sure to find it and ensure that every other member of your household is also aware.

2) Switch off any electrics

In many cases, a plumbing emergency will take place near your electrical sources. Make sure to shut off any electrical items that are near to the water leak and, in case a leak affects your entire house, shutting the power off throughout your home might be a good idea.

Another thing to consider is turning off electrical items that are water-based. Your water heater should be turned off until the issue is fixed. If your water heater is left on, then it could become damaged, so it is best to keep it safe until the water has been dried up and the situation has been fully remedied.

Your plumbing professional should be able to provide guidance on when it will be safe to turn on your electrical items and your water heater again – it shouldn’t be too long, but it is best to wait the advised amount of time!

3) Contact a professional

You must contact a professional as soon as you can. A certified emergency plumber in Ipswich will be able to come out and assess the situation, not only fixing it in the short term but also giving you long term advice on how you could best avoid a similar emergency in the future.

Amid an emergency such as this, it’s easy to try and fix it yourself or panic and not know what to do. However, contacting a plumber as soon as possible is the best course of action when it comes to a blocked drain in Ipswich – they may be able to advise you over the phone before they even get there in person.

4) Drain excess water

When you have turned off your water, it is more than likely that there will be standing water remaining in your pipes. It is fairly easy to fix this – you can open the taps and drain this water off. If the leak is in the water lines, then this is a great method that will not cause the water to enter dangerous areas in your home.

5) Clear up

Now for the part you’ve been dreading – you will need to clear up the excess water, wherever it may be. You will need to do this not only after your plumbing emergency is over, but before the plumbing service arrives. Clearing excess water will help to prevent damage to your property and will make it easier for the professionals to see the source of the issue and fix it that much faster.

It is well worth sacrificing a few old towels or spending some time mopping up to get to the root of the problem that much quicker! Open doors and windows to air the space out to eliminate any toxins in the air from the water, especially if it is a toilet or sewer issue.

With these tips in mind, you should feel better equipped to handle those unexpected plumbing emergencies, whenever they might happen.

If you’re looking for professional plumbing services, call our team today.