8 reasons why you might need emergency plumbing
BY READERS DIGEST
6th Oct 2021 Property
A professional plumber can carry out water and gas repairs. From this article, you'll get to know about the cases when you might want to call this professional immediately.
The most common reason why people call a plumber is water leaks. If you detect drops of water in unusual places, you should make sure that this is not splash or condensation and call a professional. The second popular reason is DIY repairs gone wrong. If you lack skills and experience, you might only aggravate the problem instead of fixing it. In this article, you'll find a list of situations when you should rely on the assistance of a qualified plumber to make your life easier.
A clogged drain
Drain in sinks and showers tend to clog most often because of humans' and pets' hair. You might try to fix the problem yourself by using a sink drain auger, a sink plunger or chemical drain cleaners. But a qualified plumber should cope with the clog quicker and prevent relapses.
An overflowing toilet
If you don't call the plumber as soon as possible, the clog in your toilet might cause serious damage to the flooring. While you wait for the professional to arrive, you can take the following steps to prevent the disaster.
- Turn off the toilet's water supply. Most likely, there should be a valve close to the supply line near the bottom side of the toilet. To stop the flow of water, you should turn this valve counterclockwise.
- Remove the tank cover. Lift the float ball or float cup high to stop the water from running. If this doesn't help, you might need to turn off the water supply to your house.
- To stop the water supply to your house, you should go to the basement and find a knob or valve there. Alternatively, you might look for that knob or valve close to the water heater.
Then, you might try to eliminate the clog with a toilet plunger. This might help only if there is no problem with the sewer backup. To remove excess water at the brim of the bowl, you might want to use a bucket or cup. If the water is clean, feel free to pour it into the sink. If it's dirty, you'd better pour it in a plastic bucket — and then back into the toilet as soon as it begins to function normally once again.
A sewer backup
In case of a blockage in your sewer line, your drains will be running slowly and you won't be able to get rid of this problem without third-party help. You might try to turn off the water at the main supply or street level. You might try to find the sewer cleanout line in your basement, yard or roof. A typical cleanout is a short, white pipe about 3 to 4 inches in diameter and sealed with a screw-on cap. You need to remove this cap to release the pressure in the sewer line. It might force any water that has backed up into your home to drain. Yet most likely, you'll need to call a plumber to get rid of the backup.
Loss of water pressure
With insufficient water pressure, you might be unable to clean your dishes, run the washing machine or have a bath. In such a situation, you can hardly make any repairs yourself — so it would be wise to contact a technician right away.
No hot water
When there is a problem with the water heater, you might want to check its following components:
- The heating element might be out of order
- The gas line might be disconnected
- The wires might be displaced
- The thermostat might need to be adjusted
When calling the plumber, you'll need to explain to them whether you have a gas or electric water heater. The former should have a small module with a pipe or hose leading into it. The latter should have a few wires leading into a small module on the side.
Washing machine leaks
The machine might leak during the draining cycle because there are problems with either o-rings or hoses. Large drain hoses connect the pump to the external drain and the tub to the pump. Over time, clamps loosen, hoses lose their elasticity and connection points start to leak. Also, you might discover holes or splits on the hoses because the latter become brittle with age. You'll realize that the hoses are to blame if you find water puddles, leaks and drips underneath.
As for the o-rings, they are located in the connections on either end of the hose. You don't need to be a professional plumber to understand at first sight that something has gone wrong there.
Dishwasher leaks
The water inlet valve feeds the water from your home's water line into the dishwasher. If that valve is damaged or defective, water might leak out of your dishwasher. To make sure that the valve indeed is the culprit, remove the bottom plate on the front of your dishwasher and try to locate a slow drip. There might be corrosion or hard water material on the valve. Once you detect the leak, shut off the water supply and call the technician.
Gas line repairs
These are the most common places where gas leaks might occur.
- Water heater.
- Oven and stove in the kitchen. Their gas lines might get clogged from mineral buildup.
- Fireplace. When the thermocouple gets covered in char and gunk, it might provoke issues with the gas line.
A gas leak might pose risks both for your health and the condition of your home. It's essential to call a plumber immediately, as soon as you detect a weird smell.
Final thoughts
Hopefully, this article came in handy and now you know in which situation you might need to call the Emergency Plumbing USA. There might be gas and water leaks in the house, washing machine and dishwasher leaks. There might be no water pressure, no hot water or a sewer backup. Also, you might have an overflowing toilet or a clogged drain. A professional plumber will fix all these issues promptly and at an affordable cost.
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