An emergency plumber is necessary when facing a plumbing disaster such as a burst pipe, flooding, or no hot water. Finding the right one for you is crucial and can be done by evaluating their licensing, experience, transparency, and professionalism.
It’s also important to know what constitutes a plumbing emergency and what can wait. Find a qualified emergency plumber near you by using the Angi app!
Water Leaks
We rely on water to survive, but it can become the enemy if it gets where it shouldn’t. It’s essential to catch leaks early on before they cause serious damage. An emergency plumber can help you do just that. They’ll be able to respond quickly and diagnose any problems, helping you nip them in the bud before they get worse.
Leaks can occur for a variety of reasons, including worn pipe joints, over-pressurized pipes or general wear and tear. If you find a damp patch or musty smell near a drain, turn off your water at the main valve and call an emergency plumber as soon as possible.
An emergency plumber will be able to figure out why your sewer is backing up and fix the problem, whether it’s on the home side or city-side. They’ll also be able to handle any sewage spills that may have occurred.
Blocked Toilets
If your toilet keeps getting blocked, even after you’ve tried to remove the blockage with a plunger or drain snake, then there may be a more serious issue at play. A clogged toilet can indicate that the main sewer line is blocked. This can lead to water and waste overflowing into your home.
A toilet’s primary function is to flush away waste and suck it into the sewer system or septic tank. Toilets are designed to handle human waste and toilet paper only; anything else can cause a major clog.
Some common causes of blocked toilets include:
Burst Pipes
Pipe bursts are catastrophic for homes and businesses, leading to water damage, ruined furniture, sagging ceilings and mould growth. The best way to prevent this is by having regular plumbing maintenance performed by a professional plumber.
Emergency plumbers can help with a variety of problems, including blocked drains and sewer lines. They can also address more serious issues like recurring clogs and burst pipes.
The most important thing to do when a pipe bursts is to shut off the water supply immediately. This can be done by turning off the main water valve located either at your front or backyard near the water meter. Make sure all family members know where this valve is so they can quickly turn it off in an emergency.
Once the water has been turned off, it’s time to start cleaning up the mess. Move any furniture and personal belongings to a safe place and try to remove as much water from your home as possible using buckets or towels.
Clogged Drains
Drain clogs are another common reason people call emergency plumbers. These can be caused by a number of things, including excess food scraps being dumped down drains, tree roots breaking into pipes, or the simple build-up of grease and fat in your home’s pipes.
Emergency plumbers use a variety of tools to clear clogged drains, such as plungers, drain augers (or ‘snakes’), and hydro jetting. They can also advise on how to prevent clogs in the future, such as by using drain covers.
When a drain clog becomes serious, it may cause wastewater to back up into your property. This is a health hazard and should be treated as a plumbing emergency, as the contaminated water can lead to illnesses in your family. Sewage backups can also cause significant damage to your home, so it’s important to have any problems fixed as soon as you notice them. This will also help prevent sewage from spilling into the environment and contaminating groundwater sources.
