Don’t Make These Mistakes In A Plumbing Emergency

Some plumbing problems are minor, like a leaking faucet or a hot water heater that doesn't get the water as warm as you'd like anymore. Many other plumbing problems, however, are emergencies. For example,  when a pipe bursts and water is spewing all over the home or a toilet bursts and you're left with raw sewage flowing into the hallway. In cases like these, you need to keep calm and call an emergency plumbing service. There are also a few detrimental mistakes you want to avoid.

Stepping in potentially electrified water.

If you come home and find that your basement has flooded due to a burst pipe, your first thought may be to wade across the water and turn off the water main. But this could be dangerous if electrical appliances, like your washer and dryer, are immersed in the water. They could be electrifying the water, meaning you would get shocked the second you step in it. Always call the electric company and have them temporarily shut off your power before you enter standing water.

Flushing the overflowing toilet.

If a toilet is spilling water all over, resist the urge to flush it again. Flushing again will not magically make the stuff go down the toilet. It will release more water from the tank, resulting in more flooding. When the toilet starts overflowing, one of the first things you should do is turn off the water supply valve so no more water can leak out. This valve is usually found near the floor on the left side of the toilet.

Putting drain cleaner down the toilet.

If you plunge and that does not solve the problem, call the plumber. Do not try to use drain cleaner. Not only is it typically not powerful enough to eat through the sorts of things that cause toilets to clog, but it could also prove dangerous. The cleaner could splash back up when the toilet is flushed, causing injury to you or your plumber.

Taping a Pipe

If a pipe bursts a leak, you might be tempted to tape it and leave it until morning. But that tape won't hold for very long, and you'll probably wake up to a bigger flood the next day. Turn the water off to the branch of plumbing that is affected and then let your plumber do the repair work.

If you can avoid these mistakes when you face a plumbing emergency, you'll be in good shape.


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