Helpful Tips for a Plumbing Emergency

In any plumbing emergency, while waiting for Leak Detection of Atlanta to arrive, there are many duties that you can help with. Making sure that the area is safe is an important job, especially if you have children or pets in the house. This is why it's crucial to shut off any, and all electrical circuits in the vicinity and how turning off the water heater can prevent even more damage. The water heater should also be addressed because of its proximity to the source of most leaks. Even drain cleaners can cause additional issues when the leak hasn't stopped. The last thing we want is the smell from a backed-up drain to permeate your home furniture and carpets. Handle as many of these tasks as possible before the emergency plumber arrives.

Shut Off the Nearest Water Source

The first step in addressing any plumbing emergency is to shut off the nearest water source. If you have a broken pipe, leaky or malfunctioning toilet, turn off the faucets and toilets in that room. Check under the sink first if you don’t know where your water main shutoff valve is located. Generally, local shutoffs are at the site, and the main shut-off is in the basement.

Shut Off Electrical Circuits

Some areas of your home may have electrical circuits that supply power to your appliances and fixtures. Turn off these circuits by flipping circuit breakers at your main breaker box or the fuse box inside the panel box in your garage or basement. If you're unsure how to do this, call an electrician immediately.

Turn Off the Water Heater

If your water heater has broken down or isn't working properly, this is one of the first things you should do. Turn off the valve at the bottom of the tank before turning off the power to avoid scalding yourself with hot water. Once turned off, drain any remaining hot water out of the tank and leave it alone until you're ready for repairs.

Quickly Address Any and All Leaks

If there's a leak, try to locate it as soon as possible. Close all faucets and check all pipes for signs of leakage. If it seems like there's one leaky pipe causing the problem, shut off both ends of that pipe so it doesn't continue leaking while you perform a plumbing repair.

Avoid Using Drain Cleaners

Using drain cleaners on your own can cause serious damage to your pipes and plumbing system. Even if they do manage to unclog your drains, they usually leave behind residue that can cause more problems down the road. If you need help unclogging your drains, contact a professional plumber as soon as possible instead of trying to fix them yourself with harsh chemicals or other methods that could cause further damage.

Open Spigots To Remove Any Remaining Water

Turn off the main water supply to the home and open any remaining running spigots to drain out any remaining water in the lines. If there is still standing water in your pipes, it could cause more damage as it continues to build up pressure. It's also important to ensure no one uses any of the bathrooms or kitchen until you've dealt with the problem, or else there could be even more leaks and damage down the road.

Wear Protection

Wear rubber gloves, protective eyewear, and face masks when dealing with raw sewage. The smell of sewage is strong enough to cause nausea and other health problems. Wear protective clothing to avoid getting any of it on your skin.

Leak Detection of Atlanta

Plumbing emergencies are alarming and can cause severe structural damage if repairs are not handled promptly and professionally. Avoid further damage by scheduling regular maintenance and having a reliable emergency plumber on call. In the unfortunate event of an emergency, please research the best plumber available, such as Leak Detection of Atlanta, to help resolve the issue and perform any plumbing repair as quickly and efficiently as possible.