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| Emergency home plumbing |
While a dripping faucet is annoying, it usually isn’t a problem that requires emergency service. A burst pipe, on the other hand, turns a dry living room into a small lake in mere minutes. A toilet that has been clogged for days can be an issue you can live with, but a suddenly flooding toilet is much different.
Signs You Need Immediate Plumbing Service
- Water coming out of any unexpected place, whether that’s a gushing pipe, leaking appliance, or ceiling or wall, is an emergency.
- A toilet that keeps overflowing after you shut off the water to the fixture.
- Sewage backing up into drains.
- No water to any fixture in the home.
- More than one fixture clogged at a time.
If you think the water line serving your home has broken or a water heater is leaking so much that it is spreading water on the floor, call a plumber for emergency service.
Multiple drains draining slowly means there is probably a deep clog. A small, dry spot on the ceiling or wall can mean there is a hidden leak still going on.
What to Do in the First 5 Minutes
The goal should be to shut off or contain the water in a safe way if you can. If you can’t do either of those things safely, get everyone out of the affected area.
Call a plumber for help if you have any of the problems listed above; for an Austin option, see Contact an Emergency Plumber in Austin Texas for the local route, but skip this if you are outside the area. Follow their instructions. If the water isn’t spreading quickly and it’s safe to do so, find out as much as you can about the problem and be ready to tell a plumber.
If it’s safe to do so, turn off the main water shutoff to your home to stop the flooding. If the problem is coming from just one place, you can shut off the water to that fixture.
Don’t use electrical appliances or touch wall switches if there is standing water around.
If you can, move rugs, boxes, electronics, furniture, and other valuable things out of the water’s path.
It’s OK to put a bucket under a slow drip, but don’t try to fix more complicated problems. You shouldn’t open up walls or cut into pipes.
If there is sewage backing up or coming from a fixture, keep everyone in the home away from it. No one should go into that area, and children and pets should be kept away. Shut down all appliances that empty water into drains. Don’t flush toilets or use any drain.
Never touch sewage or wastewater. It is unsanitary and can make people sick.
What the Plumber Needs to Know
Knowing the answers to the following questions will help the plumber to be ready to help:
- Where is the water coming from?
- Is the water still coming?
- What fixtures are affected?
- Where is the water going? Has any of it gotten to lower floors?
- Have there been any changes in water pressure?
- Are there any new smells? Any unusual sounds?
- Has anyone used any water or water-using appliances recently?
- Is the main water shutoff on or off?
Don’t spend time collecting this information if it’s not safe to do so or if it is impossible because the water is spreading too quickly.
Why Waiting Makes Things Worse
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| Residential plumbing leak |
Water can seep behind cabinets, under floors, and into walls, causing damage you can’t easily see. The EPA explains the reasons behind indoor moisture problems at epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq. Sewage and wastewater can seep into many areas and can spread germs and other contaminants.
You may damage pipes with drain cleaners or plungers. Sometimes they make clogs worse and push them farther down.
If you smell gas, don't try to relight the pilot and don't investigate the source of the smell. Immediately leave the house and call your gas company or emergency services from a safe distance. Do not drive or operate electrical switches or use any flames near the building.
A plumbing emergency involving gas is a special circumstance, even if you don't have standing water. It's not a situation to be treated like a standard water leak.
Document expenses like receipts and bills for drying equipment, emergency repairs, or temporary housing arrangements.
As soon as practical, and once safety is ensured, contact your homeowners or renters insurance company.
You may be asked to keep damaged materials or faulty parts until your adjuster can examine them before you get permission to throw them away.
What Comes After the Repair
Ask the plumber what caused the problem and if there’s anything else that needs attention. It can be helpful to have a plumber check for wear and other problems in your system.
It’s a good idea to check to make sure the plumbing problem doesn’t come back. Check the area for moisture, changes in water pressure, slow drains, or new smells.
When you clean up, it’s helpful to take photos of the damage before you clean it up. Dry out damp things and get anything that got wet out of the house if you can.