Plumbing emergencies: it's not a matter of "if." It's a matter of "when." Knowing what to do when your toilet backs up, your drains clog or your faucet starts dripping can make the difference between a minor plumbing bill or a major repair that can run thousands of dollars. These are the top five plumbing emergencies encountered by the typical Santa Rosa homeowner, how you can avoid them and what to do before you call the plumber if they happen anyway.
Clogged Toilet
When a toilet doesn't drain properly, your first instinct is to reach for the plunger. Most of the time, it's the right instinct, but there are a few situations when it could be a big mistake. If you know that something has fallen into the toilet, for example, plunging may temporarily allow the toilet to drain but the object could simply move further into the pipes.
To plunge the toilet: use a flange plumber, which has a deep bowl and a 2 to 3-inch rim at the bottom. Fit the rim into the bottom opening in the toilet to form a tight seal, pump the plunger up and down several times and pull the plunger up sharply. If the toilet doesn't drain after three or four attempts, call a plumber.
You can avoid most clogged toilet problems by taking care not to drop objects into the toilet. One commonsense tip: Don't use the toilet tank as a shelf.
Leaky Faucet
A leaky faucet will make your water bill skyrocket. A leaky hot water faucet will also add to your energy bill. If the water is running freely, the first step is to shut off the water supply to the faucet or the pipe. Locate the nearest water valve before the leak and turn it off before you call a plumber.
Overflowing Toilet
A toilet overflow may not be the most drastic plumbing emergency, but it's certainly one of the messiest. You can often prevent the toilet from overflowing by turning on the cold water in the tub or sink closest to the toilet while the water is still rising. This slows the flow of water enough to prevent the overflow. Turn off the water supply to the toilet at the valve behind the toilet so you can work on the clog without risking overflow.
A toilet that clogs frequently may have a blockage deeper in the pipes or plumbing system. That can become a sewer backup plumbing emergency if you don't deal with it in time. Call a plumber with leak detection equipment to check the water line and make sure there are no blockages in the main line that could become far more serious.
High Water Bill
A high water bill may not seem like a plumbing emergency, but it can signal one. If you get a water bill that's significantly higher than normal, it could mean an undetected leak that's wasting your water - and worse, could be causing serious damage to your home. If the leak isn't obvious - a dripping faucet or wet spot under a pipe - contact a plumber who provides leak detection services. Catching a leak before it gets serious can prevent one of the worst plumbing emergencies, a burst pipe.
Burst Pipe
The pipes in your plumbing system are under enormous water pressure all the time. When a pipe breaks, all that water is released. It can gush into your basement, or worse, your walls. When that happens, you have a plumbing emergency that can't wait. Before you call a plumber, turn off the water supply at the main to stop the flow of water.
Knowing what to do when something goes wrong with your plumbing can reduce the amount of damage done to your home, which will help keep the cost of repairs down.
Author Resource:
Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the world's MOST popular internet marketing companies on the web.
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