Plumbing emergencies can happen at any time, and the inconvenience and damage they cause can cause you a lot of worry. Whether your home has a burst pipe, a clogged drain, or a toilet that won’t flush, plumbing problems mean big headaches! But don’t worry, we have a few pro tips from our professional plumbers to help you prevent plumbing emergencies and to deal with them if they do happen.
Prevent Plumbing Problems
You can take a proactive approach to preventing plumbing issues:
- Check your pipes regularly. Keep an eye open for any signs of damage. Leaks, cracks in your plumbing fixtures or pipes, or bulges in hoses could indicate impending problems.
- Use a plunger properly. Every home should have plungers: flanged plungers for toilets and standard plungers for drains. However, they only work when used correctly. Make sure the plunger is completely covering the drain, and push and pull it up and down vigorously.
- Don’t put anything down the drain that doesn’t belong there. We have mentioned this in previous articles before, but it bears repeating. Grease, oil, food scraps, paper products, and anything not approved for flushing have no place going down your drains.
- Have your drains cleaned regularly. A professional plumber can clean your drains and remove any built-up grease, oil, and other debris. An expert cleaning will help to prevent clogs and keep your drains flowing freely.
What To Do In a Plumbing Emergency
When disaster strikes and you have a plumbing emergency, you can help minimize damage with the following measures:
- Shut off the water supply. This can literally save your home from extensive and expensive repairs or replacements. Familiarize yourself with the water shut-off valve, and act as quickly as possible.
- Mop water that has leaked. You don’t want the water to damage your floors or belongings. Grab a mop or a sponge or a chamois and get to work. Better yet, if you have a wet-dry shop vac, this can make your clean-up work much quicker.
- Call a plumber. Don’t make the mistake of fixing complicated plumbing problems such as leaks or broken pipes, unless you’re sure you know what you’re doing. A trained and licensed plumber can diagnose the problem and fix it quickly and efficiently.
Here are some additional tips that may be helpful:
- Keep a plunger and a bucket handy. These tools can help to handle small plumbing problems until help arrives.
- Take out renter’s or homeowner’s insurance. Get the right type of coverage to help with the the cost of plumbing repairs.
- Buy a home warranty. A home warranty can also help to cover the cost of repairs for things like replacement appliances and plumbing repairs.
We hope you found these plumbing tips useful. To keep your home’s plumbing system in good working order and prevent costly emergencies, be sure to contact your Dependable, Reliable, and Courteous Plumber at DRC Plumbing and Sewer. Click the link to request an estimate.