A, burst pipe, large leak or other major plumbing emergency is almost certain to need the attention of an experienced plumber. However, there are several steps that you can take to minimize the damage and keep the problem from compounding before the plumber arrives. If you find yourself in the midst of a plumbing emergency, keep calm and follow these simple steps.
Turn off the Water
Even small leaks can spread quickly and cause significant structural damage. Locate the source of the leak as soon as you can, and shut off the water supplying that area of the house. Leaks in fixtures such as sinks or toilets can generally be contained by shutting off the water to that fixture alone. However, leaks in the middle of a pipe may necessitate turning off the water to the entire building.
Assess the Situation
Take a moment to assess the plumbing problem and extent of the existing damage. Having some idea of what has happened can make the next two phone calls you have to make much easier. It usually also results in a more accurate estimate from your plumber.
Contact your Water Company
The good news is that not all plumbing emergencies are your responsibility. Burst water mains or backed up sewers outside of the house are often the responsibility of the water company to fix. However, if you discover the problem after hours, you may not want to wait to call a plumber first and wait until the water company is open the next day.
Call a Plumber
Contact a plumbing company that offers emergency repairs as one of its services. Describe what you can of the situation on the phone so that the plumber knows whether he or she needs to bring any special equipment or otherwise come prepared.
A plumbing emergency doesn’t have to turn into a catastrophe. Assess the problem calmly and get a plumber to your location as soon as possible.
