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When faced with a plumbing emergency, many homeowners don’t know what to do. They’ll panic, which means that they’ll be more likely to make a poor decision. Most of the time, their inability to act quickly means that the problem may worsen substantially before an emergency plumber arrives. The longer that they wait or panic, the worse that the problem becomes.
If you’re faced with a plumbing emergency, here are 5 things that you should do.
#1. Turn Off the Closest Water Source
Depending on what your plumbing emergency is, you’ll want to turn off the closest water source to the issue. This is one of the first things that you should do before the plumber arrives. Turn off the main water valve next so that water does not continue to flow into the home.
If the plumbing emergency involved the toilets, you should turn off the valve located at the base or behind the commode.
#2. Turn Off the Water Heater
Many homeowners forget to turn off the water heater in the face of a plumbing emergency, but this is actually one of the things that you should do first. By turning off your water heater, you are able to avoid further damage to the unit. If you neglect to do so, the heat inside the water heater may cause it to well up. This may cause the heater to overheat or burst. The damage to the water heater can be a lot more extensive and can be rather expensive to fix.
If you have a gas water heater, make sure that you turn the gas off before you do anything. This is for safety reasons.
# 3. Take Care of All of the Small Leaks Yourself
If there are any small leaks involved with the disaster, you should take care of them yourself while you wait for the emergency plumber to arrive. It can be difficult to identify where all of the leaks are. Many of the leaks may be hidden behind drywall or are in hard-to-reach areas. However, if the leaks are located in a visible location, you can always seal it with some plumber’s tape for the time being and wait for the plumber to arrive.
If you don’t have any plumber’s tape lying around, you can also wrap towels around the pipes that are leaking or try to stuff a rag there. Another good idea is to put a bucket under the dripping leaks. This will help prevent further water damage.
Make sure that you make note of where all of the leaks are located. Let our emergency plumber know as soon as they arrive. This will allow them to prioritize their work and take a look at all of the leaks first.
#4. Clean Up as Much of the Water as Possible
Water damage follows most emergency plumbing issues. If your home is being flooded with water, it is definitely an emergency. After you have turned off the water source, you should also try to clean up as much of the water as possible in order to prevent it from causing more water damage to your home. Use a rag to soak up as much of the water as possible. If there is a lot of water present, you should even consider using a bucket.
Once you’ve removed as much water as possible, you should also open up the windows and doors. Let as much air circulate your home as possible. You want to dry up the inside of your home immediately. If you don’t, the water may end up soaking into the foundation of your home. In worst case scenarios, the water may end up damaging the structural integrity of the foundation. This could cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars to repair.
Another thing that you should do is remove any furniture or objects that may be soaked. Bring them outside to let them air out. You’d be surprised how quickly water can ruin leather and other materials.
#5. Call an Emergency Plumber
In the heat of the moment, many people forget that they should call an emergency plumber. They start to panic and may even do things that make the situation worse.
One of the best things that you can do is call an emergency plumber. By calling someone right away, you’ll be able to get help and reduce the amount of damage that is caused by the plumbing issue. Our trained plumbing experts will let you know whether there is anything that you can do to help the situation and mitigate any damage that your home may sustain. More importantly, will be able to let you know if you’re in a potentially dangerous situation. If we tell you to leave your home right away, you should really heed that advice.
Call Metro Plumbing and Air to Take Care of All of Your Plumbing Needs in Cleveland, TN
It’s always a good idea to take a look at the emergency plumbers that are available in your area. If you reside in Cleveland, TN, highly consider giving Metro Plumbing, Heating & Air a call at 423-668-0507. Our licensed emergency plumbers are able to take care of all plumbing problems, and will be able to arrive at your residence in record time. When it comes to a plumbing emergency, every second counts. You definitely want a professional there as soon as possible to prevent the problem from worsening.
Our licensed emergency plumbers have the technical know-how to handle all plumbing problems. They’ll also guarantee their work and will make sure that you are 100% satisfied before they leave. Our professionals are here to help you, so they’ll be more than happy to answer any questions or concerns that you may have and work with you to find a solution that works for you!
Don’t fret when faced with a plumbing emergency. Give us a call today or set up an appointment online. We’ll send someone out right away!
