7 Plumbing Issues That Require An Emergency Plumber To Fix Them | San Antonio, TX
You rely on the plumbing system in your San Antonio, TX home from the moment you wake up and use the bathroom until you brush your teeth before bed. When something goes wrong with your plumbing system, performing daily household and personal hygiene tasks can be challenging.
Although all plumbing issues are inconvenient, some are more serious than others. Certain problems like slow drains and appliance installation can wait until you can get an appointment with a plumber. However, some plumbing issues cannot wait and require a call to an emergency plumber. Emergency plumbing problems can prevent you from using certain fixtures or cause damage to your home.
If your plumbing system experiences any of the following issues, you should call an emergency plumber right away.
#1 No Water
A lack of water coming into your San Antonio, TX home is an emergent issue because you need running water throughout the day. Before calling an emergency plumber, you should check a few things first to avoid an unnecessary service call. First, check your bank records to ensure your water bills have been paid so you can rule out a service termination. Next, ask a neighbor if they have water to rule out a widespread outage. If your neighbors aren’t around, you can check the water company’s website or give them a call. You have to resolve these issues, and a plumber can’t help.
After discovering a termination and an outage aren’t the problems, it’s time to call an emergency plumber. There are a few problems that can prevent water from coming into your home, including:
- A significant leak: A significant leak somewhere in the plumbing system will reduce the water pressure and stop the water flow completely.
- An issue with the main water valve: A faulty main water valve will prevent water from coming into your home, and the valve should be repaired or replaced immediately.
- Clogged waterline: If there is a significant clog in the main water line, the water cannot flow past the clog, preventing it from going to the taps in your home.
- Frozen pipes: If it is below freezing outside, your pipes may have frozen. When the pipes freeze, the water in them freezes as well, preventing water from getting to the taps.
An emergency plumber can inspect your plumbing system to determine why you have no running water. The sooner you make the call, the sooner you will have running water again.
#2 Leaks
Plumbing leaks are one of the most common calls an emergency plumber receives. Leaks are emergency issues because the leaking water can cause significant water damage and mold growth in your San Antonio, TX home. In addition, a plumbing leak can waste a considerable amount of water, causing your water bills to increase and is harmful to the environment. Several areas of your plumbing system can leak, and some are more challenging to detect than others.
- Under the sink: Leaks under the sink are simple to detect because you will see the standing water when you open the bathroom vanity or kitchen cabinet. If you have a leak under the sink, it is best to put a bowl under the leaking pipe until you can get a plumber to your home.
- Behind the walls: A leak behind the wall won’t produce visible standing water; however, these leaks leave water spots on the wall or ceiling in many cases. Leaks behind the wall are serious because considerable water damage and mold growth can occur as the water pools behind the wall.
- Under the house: A leak under your home is even more challenging to detect. If it hasn’t recently rained and there are puddles in your yard, there could be a leak under the house. The same is true if your basement floor is warm. In more severe cases, a leak under the house can cause damage to your home’s foundation, which can be expensive to repair.
You won’t see any of the signs listed above in some cases. The only signs of a leak in certain instances are an unusually high water bill or reduced water pressure coming from the taps in your home. These issues could be due to other problems; therefore, you will need a licensed plumber to determine if a leak is the cause or its something else.
An emergency plumber can detect the leak using leak detection equipment, and a drain camera will allow the plumber to check the pipes to find the source of the leak. They can also use acoustic equipment to detect the sound of water flowing, pointing them in the right direction.
The sooner you call an emergency plumber, the sooner the leak will stop.
#3 Drain Clogs
Minor drain clogs cause the water to drain slowly, but this isn’t an emergent issue. If the water still drains, you can wait until a plumber has an available appointment. If the drain is clogged completely and the water won’t drain at all, you should call an emergency plumber. You won’t be able to use the sink or tub until the clog is removed, making this an emergent issue.
A plumber can use a drain camera to find the leak’s location and determine the size, helping them choose the best way to reach the clog and the best way to remove it. When the clog is removed, the plumber can use the drain camera again to ensure the entire clog has been removed and the drainpipe is clean and clear.
Calling an emergency plumber right away will allow you to use the toilet or tub again.
#4 Toilet Clogs
It isn’t uncommon for a toilet in your San Antonio, TX home to become clogged. If you flush too much toilet paper and waste, the toilet can become clogged. The same is true if something is flushed that shouldn’t have been, such as baby wipes or a child’s toy.
In many cases, plunging the toilet will break up the clog enough that you can flush the toilet without it overflowing. However, if the clog is large, solid, or located too far down the drainpipe, the plunger won’t be effective, and you will need to call an emergency plumber. A toilet clog is an emergent issue because you can’t use the toilet until the clog is removed. If you only have one bathroom in your San Antonio, TX home, the problem is even more emergent because you can’t use the bathroom until the clog is removed.
An emergency plumber can use a toilet auger to remove the clog. If the clog is located too far down the drainpipe, they may need to disconnect the toilet to remove the clog. The sooner you call a plumber, the sooner you can start using the toilet again.
#5 Water Heater Issues
The water heater in your San Antonio, TX home is technically an appliance, but it is also an integral part of your plumbing system. The water heater is designed to heat the water that comes into your home and stores the hot water until you need it. A faulty water heater can cause several serious issues that require a call to an emergency plumber. These include:
- A lack of hot water: This could be due to a faulty heating element, or the unit has reached its maximum lifespan and can no longer function correctly.
- The water isn’t hot enough: A faulty thermostat could cause this problem or a failing heating element.
- You run out of hot water frequently: If you can barely get through a shower without running out of hot water, your existing unit may not be large enough to meet your family’s hot water demand. There could also be sediment in the tank, making less space for water storage.
- Strange sounds: Sediment can cause a banging when large pieces bang against the inside of the tank. If water gets trapped under the sediment, it can boil, causing a popping sound.
- Discolored hot water: Sediment can contaminate the water when it breaks up, causing a brown tint. If the unit is over ten years old, the inside of the tank will start breaking down, contaminating the water.
- Foul-smelling hot water: A rotten egg smell indicates the presence of sulfate bacteria in the water tank.
- Moisture or leaks: Moisture in the area indicates a loose or damaged hose, and pooling water often signifies a crack in the tank, which could flood your home.
Water heater issues are emergent because you need clean, uncontaminated hot water to perform many daily tasks. In addition, some problems can cause moisture or flooding in your home, causing considerable water damage and mold growth. An emergency plumber can inspect the unit to determine if it can be repaired or if a replacement is the best option.
#6 Discolored Water
When you turn on a faucet or showerhead in your home, it should come out clean and clear. If the water has a brown tint, you should call a plumber right away.
If just the hot water is discolored, the issue is with the water heater. If the hot and cold water is discolored, the problem is with the pipes. When the pipes age, they can begin to rust and corrode, contaminating the water. It isn’t safe to use contaminated water; therefore, you should call an emergency plumber right away. The plumber can use a drain camera to find the aged, rusty pipe so it can be replaced.
It is best to avoid using the water until the problem is resolved because drinking or bathing in contaminated water can be harmful to your health. If you really need to use the water, it is best to boil it first.
#7 Frozen Pipes
Previous winters in San Antonio, TX, have been relatively mild, which is why most homeowners don’t have heat tape on their outdoor pipes to prevent freezing. In the last couple of years, cold fronts and cold snaps have occurred, causing the temperature to drop below freezing.
If you try to turn on the water on a freezing night and nothing comes out, the pipes have likely frozen, and you should call a plumber immediately.
When your pipes freeze, the water in the pipes will freeze as well. The water freezes, it expands and can cause the pipes to burst. If this happens, the water will cause a flood in your home, causing significant water damage and mold growth.
An emergency plumber can thaw the pipes quickly and safely before the pipes burst. They can also wrap the outdoor pipes in heated tape to prevent them from freezing again in the future.
Why Choose bluefrog Plumbing + Drain + HVAC of San Antonio?
If you have an emergency plumbing issue that requires a call to an emergency plumber, call bluefrog Plumbing + Drain + HVAC of San Antonio. We are a full-service plumbing and HVAC company and are members of the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association.
We provide a variety of plumbing and HVAC services, including:
- Plumbing repair
- Plumbing installation
- Drain cleaning services
- Water heater installation, maintenance, and repair
- Air conditioning installation, maintenance, and repair
- Heating system installation, maintenance, and repair
Because we are a plumbing and HVAC company, we are a one-stop-shop for all your household needs.
If you need an emergency plumber, we provide emergency plumbing service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Our goal is to make our services as affordable for our customers as possible, and we don’t charge for the trip to your home. In addition, we don’t charge overtime charges. We also offer the Protective Protection Program to our customers, which provides a free annual plumbing evaluation and 15 percent off any plumbing service.
We have an excellent reputation in the community and have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and a 5-star rating on Google. In addition, Home Advisor lists us as an Elite and Top-Rated Service.
If you need an emergency plumber or want to schedule an appointment for plumbing or HVAC service, call bluefrog Plumbing + Drain + HVAC of San Antonio today or book online.
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