Six Common Plumbing Emergencies: Part One

If you’ve ever lived without plumbing – whether it be for a few hours or several days – you know exactly how important it is. Everything from a long, hot bath after a stressful day, to a quick drink of water relies on functional indoor plumbing. The key word there was functional. Over the next two blogs, we’re going to talk about the six most common plumbing emergencies.

Clogs

Clogs can happen in any drain, whether it be your shower, your sink, or your toilet. And while sometimes the solution is simple – a plunger and a whispered prayer – often, you need to call in professionals to remove the clog. Common culprits? Too much toilet paper or feminine hygiene products being flushed; food or grease/oil; and of course, hair. If you have little kids, we might even find a toy or two!

If you have a severe clog that isn’t responding to plungers or drain cleaners, it’s best to have a plumber come and help. Repeated issues can cause flooding and damage that is much more costly.

Leaks

Just like any drain can clog, anything with water flowing to it can leak. Maybe your toilet is running, or you notice water around your hot water heater or your washing machine. Perhaps a pipe is leaking under the sink. Not only is a dripping faucet or a puddle annoying and costly, but it can cause damage, rust, and even mold issues.

If you notice pipes that are bulging or dripping, or puddles of water around your hot water heater or anywhere else, it’s best to immediately call a professional. And always know where your water shut off valves are!

No hot water

This is one of those emergencies that rarely gets ignored, because (especially with winter coming) most of us don’t want to start our day in a freezing shower. If you’re sure you paid your utility bills, you’ll want to call a plumber to assess if there is a water heater issue (something could be wrong with the heating mechanism, there could be a build-up issue, or a broken dip tube, for instance), an electrical issue, or a leak.

We probably don’t have to convince you to get this issue fixed – hot water is one of the best things about living in a modern home!

Stay tuned for next week’s blog, where we continue talking about the six most common plumbing emergencies!