10 Common Plumbing Emergencies and How to Deal With Them

Proper use and maintenance of your plumbing fixtures and systems are essential to avoid plumbing hazards in your home.

 

In this article, we will check some of the most common plumbing emergencies and what you can do to prevent and deal with them.

Leaky Faucets

This plumbing emergency happens often and can cause even more trouble than simply getting your kitchen or bathroom wet.

 

Health issues due to mould growth, rusting of the pipes and connections, damaged wooden counters, and big water bills are just a few reasons to tackle a leaky faucet immediately.

 

If you notice streaming around your faucet or supply pipes, you should check the condition of the gaskets and pay attention to any cracks in the handles, neck or valves. If you can notice the damage, replace the parts. Otherwise, consider looking for a licensed plumber.

Burst Pipes

By far, the most imperative plumbing emergency to fix is a burst pipe.

 

If pressurised pipes burst, much water will gush out of them constantly, leading to major structural damage to your home and giant water bills. Supply pipe freezing and expanding during winter, high water pressure, rust and even tree roots growing into it can lead to a burst pipe.

 

Ignoring plumbing repair for leaking pipes can lead them to burst. You can temporarily patch a leaky pipe with a plumber’s putty or pipe repair rubber tape, but those are not substituted for a proper plumbing fix and could lead to a burst. Professionals best handle Burst water supply plumbing, so make sure to call quality plumbing services.

Clogged Toilets

A clogged toilet is a sanitary plumbing emergency since it can overflow, becoming a health hazard and a very unpleasant cleaning experience. Other than it overflowing, a clogged toilet drains water slower and has unusually high water levels.

 

The biggest reason for toilet clogs is using the toilet as a dumpster for food, tissues and other items that are better off in a trash can.

 

A plunger, drain snake, or DIY methods can help you handle most. However, more persistent toilet plumbing clogs, especially those occurring deeper within the pipes, might require a certified plumber to address the problem.

Running Toilets

You might notice a stream of water constantly flowing from the toilet tank into the toilet bowl. While this is not an emergency that can damage your home, it can cause a significant increase in bills, and you will feel it eventually.

 

The reason for a runny toilet can be a faulty, worn-out or grime-riddled flapper, which cannot perform its function of keeping the water in the tank. A faulty or debris-riddled fill valve could also lead to a runny toilet.

 

You can tackle those by adding filters to the water supply going into the tank if your water is harsh, or regularly clean and change your flapper as needed. If you don't think either is the issue, call plumbers to get a proper fix.

No Hot Water

This plumbing emergency sounds like a nightmare to people who love showering at least once a day, and it should be. Lack of hot water means something is hindering your water heater. A water heater issue can be either electrical or plumbing related, and if it runs on gas, in some cases, the reason might be your service provider.

 

Some possible fixes are turning the pilot light on for older heaters, readjusting thermostats, or checking if a breaker has gone off. In other cases, you might need the assistance of plumbers or electricians in detecting issues such as severe sediment build-up, a faulty thermostat, or heater failure.

Low Water Pressure

Low water pressure is a common plumbing emergency that can affect one appliance or your entire home. A low water pressure issue could be caused by something like a clogged filter, sediment build-up, appliance error or water provider service maintenance.

 

Simply restarting or cleaning your fixture can fix the problem. It can also have more severe roots, like damaged appliances or clogged or leaking pipes.

 

Pay attention to any water pooling, dripping or gushing around your water fixtures, and also consider what exactly is affected. Severe loss of water pressure can render some of your appliances unable to work and can make satisfying your sanitary needs near impossible.

 

If the issue persists over a few days and you cannot find its root, consult with a plumber since they are professionals and will know how to detect such issues.

 

 

Leaking Water Heater

A leaking water heater can result in colder water and higher utility bills. If your hot water is constantly dripping out, the heater will need to reheat the H2O much more often. This will increase both its water and electricity expenditure.

 

You can recognise a leaky heater problem by having lower water pressure when washing dishes or taking a shower, colder water, discolouration, and odour.

 

This can result from loose water connections, a corroded water heater, deteriorated fittings and faulty pressure relief valves. Depending on the damage, plumbing repair can range from simple fitting change to replacement of the entire water heater. Make sure to keep your water heater well-maintained.

Clogged Garbage Disposal

Having garbage disposal clogged can be relatively unhealthy and unpleasant. A common cause is an improper use, like throwing out inorganic items or foods that are tough to grind. Garbage disposal clogs can lead to backups and damage to the pipes and the disposal.

 

To avoid those, you should only put foods described in the fixture’s manual as safe, and always keep the disposal running for a minute or two after grinding with the water on.

 

If a clog occurs in your disposal, you could do a manual checkup, use a vinegar and soda mixture or might need to call an electrician or a plumber to help out with a proper plumbing fix.

Backed-Up Sewer System

Arguably worse than a burst pipe, sewer backup is a plumbing emergency that occurs when your drain system or the main sewage pipeline gets clogged.

 

Any time you use a sink, flush a toilet or use a shower connected to a clogged section of the pipe, there is nowhere for the water from them to drain and instead could come back through any connected fixtures.

 

Clean-up is extremely unhealthy and unpleasant, and you should call a professional plumber to remove the clog as soon as possible.

 

As a temporary plumbing fix, you could open the cleanout pipe in your yards to relieve some pressure on the plumbing system.

Sump Pump Failure

Sump pumps are essential in keeping moisture levels low and flood prevention. Sometimes a sump pump might not turn on due to a stuck switch or faulty sensors. Regularly check your sump pump by pouring a bucket of water in to check if it will properly switch on. Consider calling your local plumbers if you believe your sump pump is not working properly, as it may lead to property damage if left unchecked, especially during heavy rains and storms.

Conclusion

Do not hesitate to contact a quality plumbers service whenever you are dealing with a plumbing emergency that you have never dealt with before or need urgent plumbing repair. It can save you money and lots of effort in the long run!