3 Reasons to Call an Emergency Plumber
Clogged toilets are one thing. Overflowing toilets, burst pipes, and malfunctioning water heaters are a different matter entirely.
The sad fact is, there are some plumbing challenges that can't be solved with help from a plunger alone. COVID or no COVID, if you're contending with serious plumbing issues, then you're going to want to bring in an emergency plumber. Because, sometimes, these things are best left to the experts.
Here's a (by no means exhaustive) list of common plumbing issues that may warrant your contacting an emergency plumber for assistance.
1. Your pipes burst
That sinister creaking sound. Torrents of water inexplicably pooling across your floor. Yep, you guessed it: those are signs of a burst pipe!
If you're in an older house, or you live in an extremely cold climate where water is known to, well, freeze, you may have run into this situation before. If you haven't, let us be the first to tell you: situations like this ain't pretty.
Burst pipes can release as much as 100 gallons of water, just in an eight-hour period. So, before you make that call to an emergency plumber, figure out how to shut off your home's main water valve as quickly as possible, to keep your residence from being flooded inside-out. And, if your furniture has some sentimental or practical value for you and your family, be sure to transport it to another room free from water damage, or to a safe spot outside in your backyard or driveway.
2. Your water heater is old
No lie: water heaters can be dangerous if they're not dealt with properly. Remember that whole "exploding water heater" myth? Well, it turns out it wasn't a myth, after all.
Not only are old water heaters an inconvenience, practically speaking, what with the lack of dependable, fast hot water and all; they're also prone to short-circuiting homes' electrical systems, and even electrocuting folks who touch it if they're not given the proper TLC they need (scratch that, the TLC they deserve).
Even if your old heater isn't "acting up," per se, it's still worth calling the emergency plumber; these are complex machines and they require a level of attention and understanding that most of us don't have.
3. Your toilet overflows
This might seem commonplace and non-threatening enough, but in reality, an overflowing toilet is (a) not nearly as common as a simple clogged toilet, and (b) a possible sign of deeper damage requiring professional attention.
By and large, a toilet overflowing is the result of either an internal blockage, or an issue with the water tank itself. If your toilet's overflowing, shut off the water valve, bail out what water you can to prevent further mess from spreading, and then get on the phone with your emergency plumber. Because you need professional help!
Bottom line here? Be prepared.
Even if you live in a new house with new plumbing, things can always go awry.
If all hell breaks loose, be sure you know how to shut off your main water valve, and be sure to take pictures of what happened for your insurance company. Oh, and do your research ahead of time. Make sure you have a reliable emergency plumber on speed dial for instances like these. Best of luck to you and yours in your plumbing (mis)adventures!