Plumbing disasters, like most emergencies, always seem to strike at the worst possible time. You’re prepping your home for a big birthday bash, and your skink begins overflowing. It’s Christmas morning, and a leak has caused water to pool beneath your tree. Just before a backyard BBQ, sewage starts backing up into your yard.
In the moment, these plumbing emergencies can be overwhelming, confusing, and frustrating. But it won’t help to panic. With a little bit of preparation ahead of time, you can learn exactly what to do when disaster strikes. That way, you can call the best plumbing repair North Las Vegas has to offer to get the mess under control fast so you can get back to the fun.
Keep reading to learn the essential steps to take when a plumbing emergency strikes.
Turn Off the Water Source as Quickly as Possible
The very first thing you should do in any plumbing emergency is to turn off the source of the water. Your first instinct might be to get to the source of the issue or to move your belongings out of the way of the water. But if you don’t turn off the water source, your overflowing mess or leak will only continue to get worse. Depending on where the leak is located, this could mean additional damage to your home.
If your toilet is overflowing, you’ll want to turn off the valve at the base or behind your toilet as quickly as possible. It’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with where this is located on your unit now so that you’ll be able to get to it quickly during an emergency.
For a mystery leak in a wall or overflowing water outside of your home, you’ll need to turn off the main valve in your home. If you’ve recently moved in, be sure to check to see where this is located. Try turning it off to make sure that the valve won’t stick if you need to shut it off in a hurry. In most cases, you’ll be turning the valve clockwise to turn it off.
Regardless of the type of leak, the faster you can turn off the source of the water, the better. In the case of a leak outside of your home, if water continues flowing after you’ve shut off your home’s supply, this will let you know that the leak isn’t occurring in your water supply.
Shut Off Your Water Heater
After you’ve shut off the water supply that’s causing the leak, you’ll next want to turn off your water heater. If your water heater is turned on but isn’t filling with water for it to heat, that heat will build up within the unit. This can lead to damage.
Shut off your water heater to prevent this. If your water heater runs on gas, don’t forget to shut off the gas supply first. When you have your plumbing emergency under control, don’t forget to turn your water heater back on so you can go back to enjoying hot showers and warm water in your sinks.
Turn Off Any Nearby Electrical Sources
If you’ve sprung a major leak somewhere in your home, and the water is at risk of coming into contact with lamps, computers, outlets, or other electronic sources, you’ll likely want to shut off your home’s electricity, or else move those electronics out of the way.
Water getting into these sources can cause a short circuit, which can spark an electrical fire. After moving electronics out of harm’s way, take a moment to move any other belongings that haven’t yet been damaged by water, like furniture or personal items.
Find the Source of the Leak
Once you’ve put a stop to any potential dangers as much as you can by turning off the water supply and moving any electronics out of the way, it’s time to find the source of your plumbing disaster.
In the case of a small leak, you may be able to temporarily fix the problem or stop any additional damage. For instance, you can place a bucket under a slight leak in your ceiling or shove rags around a leaking pipe under your sink. If you live in a home with older plumbing that may be prone to damaged pipes, consider keeping plumbers tape on hand; this can allow you to quickly stop or slow leaks while you call the best plumbing repair North Las Vegas has to offer.
If your plumbing emergency involves a backup, you might be tempted to try to tackle the problem yourself. While it’s fine to use a plunger to fix a minor clog in your toilet or drains, think twice before grabbing a chemical cleaner; these can damage your drains after even a single-use. This means a greater chance of leaks and water damage in the future.
Open Your Drains and Spigots
Even though you’ve shut off the water supply in your home, there’s likely still water in your pipes. Moving this water out of your home can help to prevent any additional water damage from the leak. The best way to do this is by opening any drains and spigots on the outside of your home. This includes any hose attachments. Remove the hose from the spigot or open the hose to make sure that all water drains out.
Call the Best Plumbing Repair North Las Vegas has to Offer
From turning off the water to tracking down the source of your leak, these steps should be completed as quickly as possible. And as soon as you’re done, the next step is to call the best plumbing repair North Las Vegas has to offer. The faster you call, the better, because it means that they can get inside your home and start working to fix the problem faster.
If you’re experiencing a plumbing disaster, or want to head one off by upgrading your home’s plumbing, we can help. At Rakeman, our professional plumbers know how to stop the toughest leaks and unclog the most stubborn drains. From emergency visits to routine repairs, give us a call and let the best plumbing repair North Las Vegas has to offer get your home’s plumbing back on track.
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