Be Prepared: 4 Steps To Take When You’ve Got A Plumbing Emergency On Your Hands

If you own your home, you need to know how to react in an emergency. This is especially true where plumbing emergencies are concerned. Plumbing problems can get out of control quite fast. What starts out as a leaky pipe could escalate into a ruptured pipe. When you do face a plumbing emergency, taking the right steps can help you avoid further damage. If you're not sure what to do in a plumbing emergency, read the list provided below. Here are four steps you should take when faced with a plumbing emergency. 

Call an Emergency Plumber

If you're facing an emergency plumbing situation that involves raw sewage or running water, you need to hire an emergency plumber. This is especially important if you're dealing with an after-hours emergency. Plumbing emergencies can't wait until the office opens. Emergency plumbers can take care of any emergency repairs your home might need. 

Shut Down the Water Supply

When it comes to handling a plumbing emergency, you need to shut down the water supply. If you're dealing with a ruptured pipe, you need to shut the water off to the entire house. If you're dealing with a toilet that overflowed, you can turn the water off to the toilet. That way, you don't lose water to the rest of the house. Leave the water off until repairs can be made. 

Turn Off the Water Heater

If you're dealing with a full-blown emergency and you need to shut the water off to the entire house, don't forget about the water heater. You might think that the water heater is protected, but that might not be the case. Without a constant water supply, your water heater can build up pressure inside the tank. If that happens, your water heater might rupture while you're waiting for plumbing repairs. To prevent that from happening, turn off the water heater as soon as you turn the rest of the water off in the house. Don't turn the water heater back on until water to the house has been restored. 

Protect the Rest of the House

If you've got plumbing problems involving dirty toilet water, now's the time to grab plastic sheeting. Dirty toilet water could contain germs and bacteria that could pose health risks for your family. This is especially true if the germs and bacteria get into the carpeting. Prevent that from happening. Cover your carpeting with plastic sheeting, especially in the areas that haven't been affected by the toilet water. That way, the contaminated water won't get tracked through the house.

For more information on residential plumbing repair, contact a professional near you.


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