What to Do in a Plumbing Emergency Before The Plumber Arrives

Did you start hyperventilating after reading the title of this article? It’s understandable. Plumbing emergencies are a nightmare that can immensely disrupt your day-to-day life. Unfortunately, wishing and waiting the problem away never works (as much as we’d love for that to be the case). While we’re not a Seattle plumber that’s in the business of stressing people out, we are in the business of preparing property owners for the worst. When someone has the right tools and knowledge at their disposal, the amount of heartache is greatly reduced. For that reason, we’ve put together a guide on what to do in a plumbing emergency.

1. Shut Off the Water

You might feel like this is a “duh” tip, but the fact of the matter is that it can be hard to think when you’re in the middle of an emergency. As soon as you realize something is amiss, turn off the water supply to appliances. Each appliance should have a valve that can be turned clockwise to stop the flow of liquid. If you notice a decent amount of flooding that may be from damaged pipes, it’s a good idea to turn off the main water valve of the property. You don’t want things to get way worse while you’re searching for the right plumber in Seattle!

2. Open All Sinks and Faucets

Even if you shut off your valves, water can be left in the pipes. Make sure to open any outdoor spigots to drain the water and draw it away from the building. This will hopefully prevent any further water damage to the inside of your property.

3. Shut Off the Water Heater

This is important. After the water is shut off, heat and pressure can build up in a water heater unit. To stop a potentially dangerous situation, it’s best to turn off the water heating unit. For an electric water heater, cut the power from the circuit breaker. With a gas water heater, make sure to shut off the gas line (the dial is typically located on the top of the thermostat).

4. Check Other Water-Using Appliances

Think dishwashers, washing machines, and refrigerators here. If these guys are the culprits, you want to make sure the appliance water valves are shut off and the drain traps are open. If there’s a drain clog, water can collect in the appliance and cause a huge mess.

5. Treat Any Smaller, Tackleable Leaks

Yes, there is some plumbing work that’s possible without your trusted Seattle plumber. There are several ways to temporarily treat an easy-to-handle leak:

• With your hands, knead a small amount of plumbing epoxy (equal to the size of the pipe gap or crack) and gently push it in and around the gap or crack so the area is completely filled.
• Wrap a rubber or plastic patch around the leaking pipe. Place electrical tape around the patch, and secure the area with a pipe repair clamp.
• Wrap pipe wrap (hardens when applied) around the pipe.
• Ideal for a tiny leak, wrap a repair sleeve around the pipe.

Keep in mind that you should be able to find all of the materials you need at your local home improvement store.

6. Call Price Busters Plumbing & Sewer

To save you loads of time and energy in an emergency, we suggest trusting Price Busters to be your go-to Seattle plumber. Why? We’re open 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, so you know you can depend on us to be there for you. Additionally, all of our services (and there are many) are backed by one-year parts and labor guarantee. And, we utilize the latest technology to ensure the job is done right. Case in point, if your issue is related to the main sewer line that is underground, we have the ability to perform trenchless sewer repair to alleviate costly excavation and renovation.

We could go on about all the benefits of working with Price Busters, but we’re pretty sure you don’t want to read a novel right now. Simply put, we’re accredited, affordable, reliable plumbing contractors that take customer service very seriously. Whether it’s simple maintenance or a full-on bathroom remodel, we give it our all.

Partner with a Seattle plumber you can count on! Reach out to Price Busters Plumbing & Sewer and get to know us better!

Last-update of the article: 06/24/2020.