What Constitutes a Plumbing Emergency and What Do You Do When It Happens?

Any plumbing issue can be a huge headache, considering that your plumbing system facilitates the distribution of clean water and the disposal of wastewater within your home. However, not all plumbing problems are of the same severity. There are some that you can handle by yourself, such as minor clogging in your sink, while some may require you to call professional plumbing Dunedin services to fix. Some plumbing issues are also more urgent than others.

How do you know if the plumbing issue you’re experiencing needs the attention of an emergency plumber? Here are some things you should be watching out for:

1. The Source of the Problem Cannot Be Determined

Oftentimes, you can quickly pinpoint the source of a plumbing issue you’re having. For example, if there’s water leaking onto your kitchen floor, it’s likely caused by a damaged pipe or drain. From here, you can logically gauge whether or not the problem needs urgent attention from professional plumbers or if you can apply interim measures. But what if you can’t pinpoint the source of the problem at all? Perhaps your kitchen floor is flooding, but you can’t find where all the water is coming from. This situation could then qualify as a plumbing emergency and warrants a call to emergency plumbers. They have the knowledge, experience, and equipment to determine which part of your plumbing system is the main cause of the problem so that they can then fix it accordingly.

2. Sewage Backup

Sewage backups are one of the worst plumbing emergencies to deal with, as they’re both a plumbing problem and a health hazard. This issue is usually caused by a blockage in your pipes, which results in improper drainage and can cause the wastewater to come back up your toilet or sink. Beyond producing foul odours that can spread in your home, sewage backups may even contaminate your clean water supply.

If you’re experiencing a sewage backup, then don’t hesitate to call Mains Plumbers to deal with this plumbing emergency right away. This way, you can get back to your hygiene routines quickly and avoid health-related problems that can arise from contaminated water. Moreover, having sewage backup addressed as soon as possible minimises wastewater spillage and the inevitable cleanup that it requires.

3. High Risk of Flooding or Water Damage

It’s normal to experience small pipe leaks from time to time. In some cases, you can repair these leaks by yourself using plumber’s putty or teflon tape to seal the crack. However, if the leaks are threatening to flood your home and can potentially cause major water damage, then it’s a much more serious problem that needs urgent attention. More than just disrupting your daily routines, flooding can pose various safety and health risks for you and your family. Water leaks that are left unattended can also raise your water bills, which is all the more reason why you should get them fixed quickly. Overall, calling a plumber in this scenario can reduce your repair and water bill costs in the long run.

4. Burst Pipes

There are many reasons why your pipes can burst, which include extremely cold weather, protruding tree roots, changes in soil condition, or simply that your pipes are too old. In addition, poorly installed pipes are prone to bursting. In those cases, you may also need drainlaying services to overhaul your piping system.

A burst pipe causes bigger and more immediate damage than water leaks, as large amounts of water usually gush out from the damaged area. If you’ve got a burst pipe in your home, turn off your main water supply right away then call for an emergency plumber to attend to the issue immediately. Refrain from trying to fix it yourself, as it can possibly worsen the damage.

5. No Running Water 

Another plumbing issue that warrants an emergency is when your home doesn’t have running water at all, or the water pressure is too low for it to be serviceable. While not liable to cause damages to your home like the problems discussed previously, not having a consistent water supply means daily tasks such as taking a bath, drinking, cooking, and cleaning can be hampered. To diagnose the problem, try other taps in your house to see if the issue is isolated. If so, there may be a leak somewhere in your house causing the low water pressure; if the weather is cold, check if there are any frozen pipes.

If nothing is coming out of any tap, check with your neighbours or call your utility company if there’s an issue. Should any of these suggestions yield no positive results, contact your local plumber right away to get your water supply up and running.

Solving Your Plumbing Emergencies

When it comes to plumbing emergencies, you’d want to work with a company who can work quickly without compromising quality. That’s exactly the kind of work that we offer here at Mains Plumbers. Backed by decades of experience, our team will see to it that your plumbing issues are quickly resolved so you can return to your normal routine as soon as possible. So, if you’ve got any residential or light commercial plumbing job in mind, don’t hesitate to give Mains Plumbers a call today. You can call us at 03-488-6000 or email us at office@mainsplumbers.co.nz.