What Are the Most Common Plumbing Emergencies?

Plumbing issues are common in homes and may cause chaos if they are not resolved right away. Fortunately, problems that need to be fixed right away, such clogged drains and broken pipes, can always be handled by emergency plumbers like Mainstream.

Cracked Pipes

Old age or low weather that cause water to freeze and expand might cause water pipes to rupture. Because of this, a burst pipe quickly discharges gallons of water and damages nearby structures.

Your walls, ceilings, and furnishings may be compromised by water leaking from broken pipes. Furthermore, the presence of water damage creates an ideal setting for the development of mold and mildew.

Regretfully, if you lack the necessary skills, you cannot fix burst pipes. Your best bet is to take the damaged objects away from the flooded area, switch off the water supply, and contact an emergency plumber.

Toilets that overflow

A plumbing emergency is a toilet that overflows. Even though a flooded toilet might be annoying, the situation gets worse if you just have one bathroom in your home or if all of your toilets overflow.

You will need to wait patiently for your emergency plumber to resolve the issue. Water and even solid waste from toilet overflows might be harmful to your health.

Clogs, sewer backups, and faulty float mechanisms are just a few of the problems that can cause a toilet to overflow. Turn off the water supply valve on the wall behind your toilet to stop the water flow before the plumber comes. In the event that nothing changes, shut off the main water supply and wait for the plumber to resolve the problem before turning it back on.

Broken or leaky water heater

During the winter, a leaking water heater may be quite problematic, particularly for elderly, young, and cold-sensitive individuals. If the leak is accompanied by a stinky gas, contact an emergency plumber right once.

If you are unable to lower the water’s temperature or cut off the electricity or water source, a broken water heater might be harmful. Overheated temperatures could be a sign of a burst relief valve or elevated pressure. Your water heater has the potential to blow up and cause major harm or damage if there is enough excess pressure built up.

Failure of the Sump Pump

A sump pump keeps your house safe from flooding if you reside in a region that receives a lot of rain. Sump pumps extract rainwater from your crawlspace and basement. Therefore, flooding in your basement or crawlspace is the most evident sign of a sump pump breakdown.

Wet stains on dry walls, strange sounds, and erratic cycles are some prominent signs of sump pump problems. Delaying sump pump issues is not a good idea because they become more active during wet seasons. If not, water damage will occur to your house.

Gas Spills

Although natural gas has no color or smell, some businesses add a chemical to make the gas smell. The gas frequently hisses or whistles in the gas line and smells like sulfur or rotten eggs.

Gas leaks are dangerous and can harm you, your loved ones, and your pets. Malaise, vertigo, headaches, nosebleeds, and inflamed eyes are some of the mild signs of gas leakage.

Absence of Water

Even while it’s not as hazardous as most other plumbing issues, a lack of water is nevertheless quite inconvenient. For instance, you are unable to cook, wash clothes, take a shower, or flush the toilets.

Sometimes, your water provider may need to shut down systems for repair; however, you will be informed in advance. Large blockages in the pipes, damaged valves, and significant leaks in the lines are some typical reasons for low water pressure.

obstructed sewer lines

In many houses, blockages and drain clogs are unavoidable; but, with proper system maintenance, you may lessen the likelihood of clogged pipes. Waste cannot properly flow from your house to the sewage pipes when your sewer lines are clogged.

When you flush foreign objects down your toilet, such as paper towels and feminine products, your lines can frequently become blocked. Minor clogs can occasionally be unclogged by yourself, but more serious obstructions need to be fixed by a plumber.

Your only option in the event that tree roots obstruct your sewage pipes is to contact a plumber. To identify the underlying reason and address the issue using hydro jetting, drain cleaning, and other methods, your plumber does a thorough examination.

When Do Emergencies with Plumbing Get Direr?

While every plumbing emergency requires quick attention, some might result in significant harm. Two situations that make a plumbing issue serious are as follows:

When Those Affected Facilities Cannot Be Used

The majority of plumbing fittings are necessary for comfort and life. It should be open to everyone to use facilities like faucets and toilets. If a single toilet in a house became unusable, it would be a serious plumbing problem. Because nature calls and humans must respond, restrooms need to be accessible at all times.

When the Structural Integrity of the Home Is Compromised by the Emergency

The longevity of basements, walls, ceilings, and other housing structures is diminished by water damage. Plumbing emergencies, such as water leaks from busted pipes, are serious and require quick attention.

Are Emergencies in Plumbing Covered by Homeowners Insurance?

Sudden or unforeseen damage resulting from plumbing crises is often covered by homes insurance policies. However, slow leaks and other gradual damages are not covered by the insurance. Homeowners insurance may not cover regional floods.

Call emergency plumbing services to help you out if you have a plumbing emergency that puts your health, safety, or access to water in danger. The best plumber to call in case of a plumbing emergency is Mainstream Electric, Heating, Cooling, and Plumbing. Reach out to us right now.