Got A Plumbing Repair Problem? Here’s What You Should Do | San Antonio, TX
Photo By Andrey_Popov at Shutterstock
If you own a home, there’s going to come a time when you run into a plumbing problem. While many plumbing problems are somewhat minor, there are some things that can lead to huge headaches and expensive repairs. It’s your job as a homeowner to stay on top of maintenance and repairs and prepare yourself for any emergencies you may encounter. If you’ve got a problem with the plumbing system in your San Antonio, TX, home, here are some plumbing repair basics you should have in mind when you call a professional.
Assessing the Problem
The first thing you need to do when you have a plumbing problem is try to determine how severe that problem is. There are a lot of plumbing problems that are simply a matter of inconvenience, but sometimes you’re dealing with an emergency that you need to have fixed right away. Understanding what kind of plumbing repairs you might need is an important part to taking care of your plumbing system.
If a plumbing problem isn’t interrupting your day-to-day life, you can usually schedule a plumbing repair appointment a few days out without worrying about things getting any worse. If this is the case, make sure you’re doing what you can to minimize damage in the meantime.
Sometimes, you’ll run into a plumbing problem that requires emergency plumbing repairs. If you have a burst pipe that’s gushing water or you’re smelling a strong sewer odor in your home, that’s a good sign that you have a problem you can’t simply wait out. If you’re not sure if you’re dealing with a plumbing emergency, you can always call a plumber to confirm.
Minimize the Damage
Once you’ve determined the severity of the problem you’re dealing with, you need to take steps to minimize the damage that could result from that problem. With something like a burst pipe, you could be dealing with a massive spike in your water bill as well as severe water damage if you don’t get things fixed on time. This is why you need to know where your main water shutoff valve is. This valve allows you to cut off water to your home so you don’t have to worry about flooding.
Another thing you might want to consider if you had a leak or some other form of water damage is what you can do to dry out your home. It might not seem like much, but simply running a few fans and a good heater can go a long way toward preventing serious water damage in your home. If you have a large industrial fan such as the ones that are used in workshops, this is the best way to dry things out and minimize water damage to your home.
What to Avoid
Just because you’ve called a plumbing repair company doesn’t mean you’re being completely safe when it comes to dealing with a plumbing problem. In addition to understanding the first steps you need to take, you should also understand what you need to avoid if you want to keep damage to a minimum and keep yourself safe when you’ve got a plumbing problem.
Electricity can be a big problem when it comes to floods and other water damage. If you’re comfortable doing it, shut off power to your home or the affected room if there’s a lot of standing water. Standing water in outlets can lead to serious damage, so you want to avoid that as much as possible. In some cases, you might need to call an electrician to replace outlets after you’ve taken care of plumbing repairs.
Another thing you want to avoid is any type of questionable water. If water in your home smells very bad, is badly discolored or is coming from a drain pipe, it could mean that you’ve got a sewage backup in your home. This is a nasty problem that can cause a lot of health problems when handled incorrectly, so make sure you call a plumbing repair company in San Antonio, TX if you think you might have a sewage backup.
Moving Forward
One of the toughest parts about being a homeowner is having to invest a bunch of time and money into taking care of your home. While you might have expected to do some minor renovations and repairs over the years, no homeowner expects to have a major plumbing problem that costs a fortune to fix. As counterproductive as it may seem, the best way to save money is to make sure you’re paying for plumbing repairs as soon as you need them. When a plumber tells you you’ve got a big problem that requires an expensive fix, it’s generally best to pay that cost before you end up with an even larger repair bill.
Another thing you might want to consider is working to prevent similar plumbing problems in the future. If you have a burst pipe, for example, you should make sure your exterior walls are insulated and the pipes inside them have heat tape to keep them from freezing. While these preventative measures may cost a bit, they can save you a ton of money on plumbing repairs in the future.
Get Your Plumbing Fixed
There’s nothing worse than running into a plumbing problem and not knowing how to handle it. As a homeowner, your best bet is finding a good plumber you can call when you’ve got a problem that needs fixing.
If you have a plumbing problem and you’re not quite sure what to do, bluefrog Plumbing + Drain of San Antonio is here to help. Whether you’ve got a major problem you need us to fix or you simply want to upgrade some of your fixtures, we’re here whenever you need us. Give bluefrog a call at (210) 876-1629 to learn more and schedule service today.
Priority Service