Your home is your safe space. The place where you house so many precious memories and worldly goods. The place where you live, eat, sleep and relax. That is why it is so important to be aware of the potential issues that can happen in your home, and have a plan in place to deal with them. Beginning with plumbing emergencies.
A plumbing emergency can be dangerous, expensive and hugely damaging, and being aware of what could happen and how to deal with it can impact the severity of the effects. Read on to discover more about plumbing emergencies and how you should respond to them if they occur…
What are the main types of plumbing emergencies?
There are a variety of plumbing emergencies with many causes. Depending on the type and the severity, they can be anything from an annoyance through to devastating to your home and its inhabitants. The main types that you are likely to encounter in Australia are:
Burst Pipes
If your pipes rupture, they can release upwards of 100 gallons of water in 8 hours, flooding your home and causing serious damage. If you don’t turn off your water right away, or if it happens when you are asleep or don’t know it has occurred, that much water can cause all kinds of issues.
Neglect or a failure to maintain and check on your pipes is often the cause of this kind of emergency, as pipes can erode and show wear over time.
Overflowing toilets
As unpleasant a picture as an overflowing toilet presents, the reality can be far worse. It is not merely the grossness of what you might see and smell; this kind of plumbing emergency can be detrimental to your health if not dealt with quickly.
This may be caused by something done by someone in the house, flushing items that shouldn’t be flushed, or it could be a sign of an even bigger problem. In the worst cases, your toilet could even shatter which again could be a serious hazard to you and your family. This would definitely count as a reason to call for emergency plumbing services to help.
Water heater issues
These can range from smells to drips to serious leaks, but any issues with your water heater should be carefully investigated by professionals. Though not likely, ignoring potential issues here could be life-threatening as your heater could even explode. This is a clear example of how important it is to maintain and check your plumbing regularly, and react immediately to any problems.
Check the temperature, watch out for any drips or leaks, and contact the professionals if you have any doubts or questions whatsoever.
Sump pit issues
Many people in Australia have sump pits that work to prevent their basements from flooding during bad weather. There are a variety of things that can go wrong and cause it to malfunction, including a lack of power, waste blocking the wheel’s movement and more.
If spotted quickly enough any serious issues can be avoided, but if it packs up in a storm your basement could indeed flood and you could have to deal with damage to your home and belongings.
Sewage system emergencies
Much like with a burst toilet, a backed-up sewage system can lead to all sorts of harmful and potentially toxic material being unleashed in or near your home. This can harm you and your family. It can also be smelly and cause irreversible damage to your belongings.
You really don’t want to mess around with this one. If you smell odours, see pooling water or see drainage clogs call in a professional plumber right away.
How can you avoid them?
Some emergencies may well be unavoidable. They could happen due to a natural disaster or just an unlucky accident, or due to someone else’s errors. But if disaster does strike, you will want to know you did all you could to avoid it, and ideally avoid it altogether. Some of the key ways to achieve this are to:
- Carry out regular plumbing maintenance – you get your car serviced regularly and have check-ups on your eyes and teeth, so it is crazy to think that your plumbing is any different.
- Only use the right kind of drain cleaners – too many chemicals can erode pipes from within causing them to weaken and burst. If you are in doubt as to what cleaners to use, check with the experts for advice.
- Think before you flush – as you have probably seen in public bathrooms, there are plenty of things you shouldn’t flush away including sanitary items and even an excess of toilet roll. Be smart and bin it instead.
- Pay attention to leaks – while drips and leaks may seem small and insignificant, they can be signs of a bigger problem. Blocked drains, drips and leaks should all be investigated immediately and dealt with before they can cause damage.
- Watch out for tree roots – tree roots can cause serious damage to your plumbing so be sure to keep an eye out and react quickly to potential issues.
- Regularly check your hot water system – we have mentioned above some of the serious issues that can occur if you don’t. This one is not to be skipped or left too long.
- Leave your heating on low or insulate it properly – many homes have burst pipes due to freezing weather. You can help prevent this by keeping them insulated and warm all year round.
- Check your water bill – an unusually high bill could of course mean that you indulged in a couple of extra hot baths over the cooler months, but it could also be a sign that you have a leak somewhere that you haven’t seen.
As you can see, the main way to avoid plumbing emergencies is to keep an eye on your home, your cleaning, your garden and your bill. Don’t dismiss anything out of hand, and don’t wait too long to deal with any potential issues no matter how small they seem.
So, what should you do if you have a plumbing emergency?
So now that you have noticed a leak, or if you do experience the nightmare of a burst pipe or toilet, it is time to call in the professionals. Plumbing is not something that should be treated lightly, or messed around with by someone who likes a bit of DIY and can put up shelves or paint a room.
Plumbing is essential, can be expensive, and very dangerous if not done right. In an emergency don’t hesitate – turn off the water and call in an expert plumbing company right away.
