Need A Plumber? What To Do During A Plumbing Emergency | Cibolo, TX
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As a homeowner, one of the things you should avoid is dealing with a plumbing emergency. While some plumbing emergencies are unexpected, some show subtle signs you’d think it’s not going to be a problem down the road. But before you know it — your home is already flooding, and you don’t know what to do. Ensure that you have a contact number of a plumber in Cibolo, TX, and call this professional the soonest possible time. You can prevent further damage when you act quickly!
How to Act When There’s an Emergency
When there is a leak in your plumbing or another plumbing emergency, the first thing you need to do is not to call a professional in your area right away but to close the shut-off valve. Doing this will stop the flow of water to your house, preventing further damage from happening. So make sure that you know where these are located because your home’s structural foundation may depend on it. It’s also best to inform all of your family members where these are located, just in case you won’t be home. Then, if possible, contact a professional to install several shut-off valves for your home. Make sure that they are also easily accessible and close to your plumbing appliances such as the water heater, washing machine or dishwasher.
After closing the shut-off valve, it’s also essential to turn on all the faucets and drain the remaining water in the plumbing pipes. Opening all your faucets can help bring the excess water away from a plumbing leak if there is any. The next step is to finally call a licensed professional in your area for assistance. Choose a reliable and reputable plumber that can respond to emergency plumbing services within just a few hours. Remember, the longer you wait, the more damage it will bring to your home. Ensure that you select a professional you know would respond to your emergency at the soonest possible time. And while waiting for the professional, consider cleaning the area by removing the water, if there is any. But take extra precautions to avoid accidents and other emergencies.
One thing to remember, don’t get into the water if there are electrical appliances or when there are switches nearby. Simply turn off electricity – if you have access to it – and then wait for a licensed professional to help you.
To minimize water damage, get a mop and towels, if possible, then clean up the mess. Do this while waiting for the professional plumber.
If the plumbing emergency is a gas leak, turn off the gas supply and open all your windows for ventilation. Then call a licensed plumber in your area for assistance.
Common Plumbing Emergencies
How do you know that you have a plumbing emergency? Plumbing leaks or gas leaks are an emergency. You need to get help from a professional plumber right away. Below are some plumbing emergencies that may occur if you don’t take care of your plumbing.
Water Heater Problems
If you have a conventional heater, it’s crucial to flush the tank at least once a year to eliminate the sediment buildup at the bottom of the tank. One a year is recommended, but you may have to do it twice, especially when there is a high concentration of hard water in your plumbing.
This is a must-do for conventional heaters. In addition, you also need to check the pressure valve constantly to make sure it’s doing what it should. Failure to properly maintain your water heater can lead to catastrophic water leaks from the tank. Call an emergency plumber right away for assistance.
You can avoid emergency problems with your water heater when you practice proper maintenance and when you get professional service for your water heater at least once a year.
Overflowing Toilet
This is a plumbing emergency every homeowner wants to avoid. When the toilet overflows, this is usually because of a toilet clog. Your toilet won’t flush because something is blocking it. Because the water can’t be flushed, it’s going to overflow. And that will be really unpleasant and stressful. Before calling a plumber, turn off the water valve first that’s connected to the toilet. It’s usually behind your toilet and against the wall. If you still can’t find this, consider speaking to one of our professionals in Cibolo, TX, for assistance.
Burst Pipes
Burst pipes occur when you put too much stress or strain on the pipes. During winter, it’s important that you insulate all of your exposed pipes, so the water inside them doesn’t freeze. Pipes can burst when the water inside them freezes.
Pipes can also burst due to high water pressure. As much as possible, hire a licensed professional in Cibolo, TX, to help you correct any water pressure problem in your home.
You can avoid water leaks that will cost you thousands in repairs and restorations by simply insulating your plumbing pipes, especially when the temperatures start dropping. For example, if you have pipes under the sink, make sure that you turn on your heating and open all the cabinet doors so warm air can circulate through them. You may also want to slightly open the faucet so warm water can circulate in your pipes. If you have other issues, please don’t hesitate to contact a plumber.
Clogged Drain
If you don’t install a strainer and you’re not mindful of what you throw down the drain, expect your toilets or sink drains to become clogged in no time. While a drain or toilet plunger can help, prevention is always better than cure. Don’t throw grease or large food particles down the drain to avoid clogging. Most importantly, please don’t use chemical drain cleaners in unclogging drains as they are not a permanent solution. They can only damage your pipes and may also pose some health risks. A major clogged drain is a plumbing emergency — the best thing you can do is call a plumber for assistance.
No Water
If you have no water, check with your utility company first. You may also want to check with your neighbors. If everyone doesn’t have water, there could be a problem with your utility company. When you’re the only one in the neighborhood who doesn’t have water, consider calling a professional in Cibolo, TX, immediately so they can thoroughly inspect your system and resolve any problem.
Sump Pump Issues
Remember that the sump pump prevents flooding in the basement. If they malfunction, you will be facing an even bigger problem. You’ll be dealing with mold, structural issues and restorations that may cost you thousands of dollars. Homeowners with only one sump pump and no backup battery should schedule an appointment with a professional for an inspection. You need to make sure that your sump pump is ready to combat any storm. Otherwise, your basement could flood. Call a plumber right away for help.
Broken Washing Machine Hose
What kind of washing machine hose are you using? We suggest that you invest in stainless steel braided hoses as they are susceptible to rust and damage. They are a lot more durable than the rubber ones. Keep in mind that when the washing machine hose is damaged, your laundry room could be flooded.
Sewage Backup
This is a major plumbing emergency. You need to call an emergency plumber right away, or your home may smell very unpleasant. Some signs of a sewage backup are frequent clogs, bubbling drains, or sewage-like odors from your drains. Get help immediately to prevent further problems. Call a licensed and experienced professional for a thorough inspection and to resolve the issue effectively.
Running Toilet
Please don’t neglect this problem as you’ll be wasting hundreds of gallons of water. Your water bills will also suddenly skyrocket. Call a plumber right away so they can check your toilet. To avoid plumbing emergencies and costly water bills, we suggest that you never ignore problems. Most emergencies don’t happen overnight; they usually occur because homeowners neglect their responsibility to take care of their plumbing.
Plumbing Leaks Can Lead to Emergencies and Attract Unwanted Pests
Insects and rodents love places with high levels of moisture, such as your crawl spaces and basements. So plumbing leaks are more than just an emergency — you need to avoid them at all costs if you don’t want cockroaches, rats, termites, or mice in your homes.
Make sure you inspect these:
Appliances that utilize water – the washing machine and the dishwasher are two of the devices that use gallons of water when running. If one of them is no longer that efficient due to its age, the appliance might malfunction at any time. A leak may occur at any moment, so make sure to contact a plumber to inspect these appliances and ensure they work well. If you suspect that there might be an issue, contact a professional right away.
If you don’t take care of these, it won’t only lead to having unwanted pests in your home, but you may have a costly plumbing emergency.
Leaky faucets – some homeowners think that a leaky faucet isn’t really a plumbing emergency. Remember that they can damage your floors and even the foundation of your home. That’s on top of the number of gallons of water wasted and the unwanted pests. To avoid this, contact a plumber in Cibolo, TX, right away to fix faucet leaks.
Basement – installing a sump pump is the most effective way to get rid of flooding in your basement. If possible, install a second pump, too, just in case the primary sump pump fails or if there’s a power outage. For installation, ensure that you only hire a licensed plumber.
How to Know Your Pipes are Damaged or Worn Out
It’s crucial to find worn-out plumbing pipes early to avoid costly plumbing emergencies and restorations. As the years go by, your plumbing pipes can begin to burst, leak or break down. If you don’t get regular plumbing inspections, these eroded plumbing pipes or hidden leaks can exist in your home but may remain unnoticed for extended periods of time. This kind of problem can lead to plumbing emergencies and may even cost you more money down the road. Routine maintenance and annual inspections a fortune in repairs and restorations. If you have plumbing fixtures that are more than 50 years old, ensure that they get inspected regularly.
Check Regularly
Apart from having your plumbing pipes inspected once a year, you should still periodically check your plumbing for suspicious signs, such as brown stains on the ceilings or walls. Stains can reveal hidden leaks. For areas with high moisture, ensure that you address that the soonest possible time.
When filling your bathtub, check for the color of water, and if it’s either yellowish or brown, this could mean that your plumbing pipes are decaying or rusting. Contact a plumber in Cibolo, TX, right away for an inspection.
Your plumbing pipes are built to last for several years. But corrosion and stress on the pipes can cause them to become damaged or worn out. You need to contact a plumber immediately to avoid a plumbing emergency or other issues with your plumbing pipes.
Contact bluefrog Plumbing + Drain of San Antonio
Do you need an emergency plumber in Cibolo, TX, today? bluefrog Plumbing can help! We operate 24/7 to make sure that all homeowners get the emergency plumbing services they need. Our plumbers are licensed and highly experienced in tackling any plumbing emergency. Rest assured, you will be completely delighted with the service we provide. Contact us today for an appointment.
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