5 Plumbing Situations an Emergency Plumber Can Handle

Plumbing problems can range from a tiny leak to a severe flood. If you’re a handy homeowner, you may feel like you have the tools and knowledge to handle even the biggest plumbing emergency, but the truth is there are some situations that should be handled by the professionals.

And, sometimes, you should call an emergency plumber right away at first sign of trouble, even in the dead of night. Here are some of the situations you should let an emergency plumber take care of.

1. Water Heater Problems

Though you might not think about the importance of your water heater on a daily basis, you rely on this equipment every single day for cleaning and showers. When your water heater suddenly stops working, you should call an emergency plumber, particularly if you need to use hot water before regular business hours or if you believe the problem is connected to the gas line or the electrical connections. Holding off on calling a plumbing could result in serious safety hazards and health risks to you and your family.

2. A Clog in All Your Toilets or Your Only Toilet

If you have two or more bathrooms in your home, then a clog isn’t a serious issue that requires immediate attention. You can wait until regular business hours to call a plumber or solve the issue yourself. After all, you have other bathrooms you can use in the meantime.

When there’s a clog in the only toilet in your house, however, this is a situation that needs to be handled immediately. You require at least one working toilet in your home at all times. If you’ve tried plunging the toilet to no avail, call an emergency plumber. You only risk doing damage to your plumbing system by misusing a caustic drain cleaner or auger.

The same advice applies if all of your toilets are experiencing problems at the same time. If this is the case, then your issue likely isn’t with the toilets themselves but with your main sewer line, which is considered an emergency that should be fixed right away by a trusted professional.

3. A Serious Leak or Flood

Many small pinhole leaks can be temporarily solved with some duct tape or a bucket, but the same can’t be said for serious leaks that lead to flooding. When water starts flowing at a fast rate, the water loss can be extremely difficult to contain and can lead to significant water damage in the home. The longer you wait to call a plumber, the costlier the damage becomes. The same can be said for leaks that are occurring in areas of your home you can’t easily access, such as behind your walls or under your floor. Turn off your home’s water and call an emergency plumber to get prompt help to restore your home’s water supply and take care of the damage.

4. An Overflowing Toilet

While a clogged toilet is a common occurrence in homes, an overflowing toilet isn’t, and it’s an easy that should be handled immediately by a professional. Plunging the toilet likely won’t help in this case since there’s probably a serious blockage or issue with the tank or with a piece of the toilet that regulates the water flow.

5. Frozen Pipes

If your pipes aren’t properly insulated, they could freeze and stop working during the winter. This is a relatively common problem, but not one that should be taken lightly, especially if all of your faucets aren’t working. Not only do you need access to water but you also don’t want to risk the chance that frozen pipes will leak or burst, causing costlier problems. Call an emergency plumber.