Time can be of the essence when there’s a plumbing emergency. You need to get professional help immediately! But what if you’re not sure? Is the plumbing problem you’re experiencing really an emergency, or can you wait and schedule a regular appointment with a plumber? Here are some tips for sorting that question out.
When in Doubt, Don’t Hesitate
It would definitely be better to err on the side of caution when it comes to your plumbing. Water damage can cause major problems. Beyond just being a mess to clean up, it can soak into the structure of your home and cause rot and mold, and even do electrical damage if the problem happens to be near your electrical panel or other major wiring. If you’re not sure whether you’re truly experiencing an emergency, treating it as an emergency would be safer than letting the problem get worse.
Leaks
If water is flowing from somewhere it shouldn’t be, even if it isn’t a huge gush or geyser, it’s an emergency. First, find your main water shutoff. It will be on the side of the house closest to the water source. This will be closest to the street if you have municipal water, or nearest the well if you do not. Then get a plumber to come address your problem immediately.
Frozen Pipes
During the winter, when a pipe gets too cold, the water inside it may freeze. This does more than just prevent water from flowing. Water expands when it freezes, and the force of that expansion can cause the pipe to rupture. You need a plumber right away! Don’t try to thaw the pipe yourself with a space heater or hair dryer: the rapid change in temperature can worsen the problem. You need an Carboneplumbing.com/plumbing/emergency” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>emergency plumber in Pine Brook, NJ, ideally before the ice melts and you end up with a major leak.
No Water
If none of the plumbing fixtures in your home are providing any water, you can probably tell that you’ve got an emergency on your hands. First, check with the neighbors or with your municipal water source. It could be that there’s a problem that has nothing to do with your home. If the neighbors have water and your utility says nothing is wrong, you need a plumber urgently. When your whole house is lacking water, there’s probably a big problem with the main water line that connects the city’s water main to your home.
Sewer Problems
Are your toilets backing up? Is dirty water flooding into your tub or shower? Has a very smelly puddle suddenly appeared in your yard, above where the sewer line runs? For your health, you need to treat this as an emergency. The germs and gasses from sewage are dangerous. Sometimes, sewer pipes become blocked or cracked, and it’s critical to have them repaired promptly.
Non-Emergency Concerns
If your problem only affects a single fixture, and you can shut off the water to that fixture, you can safely wait to have it repaired. If your water heater is making a rumbling noise or providing lukewarm water instead of truly hot, you will definitely want a plumber to take a look, but it is not an emergency. And if you have one clogged drain that you can’t unplug yourself, that is also a job for a plumber, but it can wait for a regularly scheduled appointment.
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