What Should You Do If You Have a Plumbing Emergency?

Plumbing emergencies come in many forms, from stopped-up sinks and clogged toilets to leaky pipes and backed-up sewer systems. Whether you’re facing a minor inconvenience or major property damage, you must take action to resolve the plumbing problem and get your life back to normal. Here’s what to do if you have a plumbing emergency.

Call an Emergency Plumber

First things first—get on the phone with a qualified plumber to describe your situation and ask for advice. The plumber may be able to walk you through it over the phone, or they may dispatch a truck to your location immediately. Either way, calling an emergency plumber is the first thing to do.

Shut Off the Water Supply

If your situation poses a flood risk, turn off the water to limit property damage. In the case of an overflowing toilet, leaky faucet, or damaged plumbing hose, you should be able to shut off the water behind the fixture or appliance in question. But if a pipe is leaking behind the wall or under the floor, you’ll need to stop the water flow at the main water shut-off valve.

Assess the Damage

Once the water is no longer flowing, look for signs of property damage, such as standing water, peeling paint, bubbling drywall, warped flooring, or mold growth. While an emergency plumber can fix the source of the leak, you’ll need home restoration services to repair any property damage.

Call Your Utility Provider

If you’re dealing with low water pressure or have no water at all, contact the utility company to see if the problem is due to non-payment or a complication on their end. Sometimes, utility providers will offer to send a plumber to investigate before you hire your own.

Take a DIY Approach

It may be helpful to have some basic emergency plumbing supplies on hand to help you reduce damage before a plumber arrives, including:

• A plunger to tackle minor or moderate toilet clogs
• A 5-gallon bucket to catch water dripping from an overhead pipe leak
• Slip joint pliers and an adjustable wrench to make minor pipe repairs
• Plumber’s tape to fix leaky showerheads or temporarily repair burst pipes
• An Allen wrench set to repair a jammed garbage disposal

Know How to Prevent Plumbing Problems

Some issues are unavoidable, but others are well within your control. Here’s how to reduce the chance of a future plumbing emergency:

• Don’t flush anything but toilet paper and human waste.
• Never pour cooking grease down the drain.
• Place mesh strainers over your drains to help prevent clogs.
• Schedule preventative plumbing maintenance to catch and reverse minor issues before they become major headaches.

If you need help recovering from a plumbing emergency, turn to Mike Counsil Plumbing. We offer 24/7 emergency plumbing and rooter services for homeowners in San Jose, CA, and the surrounding South Bay area. Whether your toilet is overflowing, your sump pump has failed, or you have no hot water, contact us at 408-916-1226 for immediate assistance.