What to Do During a Plumbing Emergency

Signs of a Plumbing Emergency

One good thing –if we had to find a silver lining–about plumbing issues is that they often have warning signs. This means that if you know what you’re looking for you should be able to catch the issue and get repairs before it turns into an after-hours disaster.

The most common signs of any plumbing issue are unusual noises such as hissing, dripping or clunking from your pipes and damp patches on your ceilings or walls. Additionally, strange or foul odours can also indicate an issue, gas leaks for example will generally have a rotten egg smell, while sewage odours could be from blocked drains.

If you notice any of these signs, it’s important to act quickly but as calmly as possible.

Immediate Action to Take

If you notice any of the warning signs (or when you notice a major issue), call in a 24-hour emergency plumber. Depending on the nature of the plumbing emergency, the steps will be different, but the one constant is that issues of this level are best left to those with experience.

Gas Leak

In the event of a gas leak, it’s important to get everyone, including pets, out of the house and onto the street as quickly as possible. Once everyone is at a safe distance from the property you can then call the emergency services (000), your gas company and/or your local emergency plumber.

It’s essential that you evacuate first and call second for gas leaks as electrical devices can create sparks and risk igniting the gas. We also don’t recommend trying any DIY fixes for this issue as it’s highly dangerous–leave it to the experts!

Burst Pipes

Burst pipes also necessitate quick action to minimise mess and water damage. Your first two steps –in any order– are to shut off your mains water supply to stop the flow and call an emergency plumber. Once the water is no longer flooding into your house and you know a plumber is on the way you can start to do some preliminary clean up.

Burst pipes often require significant repairs and inspection to fix, so it’s best to contact a plumber for advice and repairs while you focus on the clean-up and protecting your property.

Water can damage your belongings and property if left to sit for long periods. So, to minimise damage, lay down rags or towels to mop up the water and move any furniture out of the wet space, drying as you go where possible.

Blocked Drains or Sewage Backups

Blocked drains can lead to sewage backups if not treated properly and efficiently. While it can be tempting to continually pour chemical drain cleaners or bi-carb soda and vinegar down the sink or toilet and go to town with a plunger this is often either ineffective or can do more damage than good.

If your pipes are heavily blocked, the reactions from these chemicals or the momentum from the plunger can cause the sewage water to back up into your sink or toilet bowl and risk overflowing. If this happens, it can cause damage and create an unsafe environment. That’s when it’s a real plumbing emergency!

Instead, avoid flushing toilets or pouring anything down your sinks from the moment you notice an issue and call an emergency plumber. Then you can turn off your water to prevent further issues. For extra protection, you can plug the drains to prevent backups and lay towels or rags around the base of the toilet or in front of sinks.

Hot Water System Failures

Hot water systems are another plumbing fixture that can cause major issues. Not only can a malfunctioning hot water system leave you with cold showers, but if it is damaged and leaks it can cause significant water damage.

If you suddenly lose heat in the middle of a shower or while washing the dishes there’s likely an issue with your system that needs to be addressed. As water heaters are generally electric or gas, they can be dangerous to repair, so you will need to contact an emergency plumber ASAP.

While waiting for the experts to arrive, you can shut off the water and power to the heater to be safe and keep everyone away from the system.

Minimise Damage from Plumbing Emergencies

With a quick response and a reliable emergency plumber on speed dial, you will be able to manage any plumbing emergency with minimal stress and damage. Just remember the specialised tips for each individual issue, like not to use electronic devices if you suspect a gas leak, and you should be okay.

At Essendon Plumbing Services, our reliable and experienced emergency plumbers know the ins and outs for a wide range of plumbing issues so we can fix them quickly and effectively. And, we are on call 24/7, 365 days a year, yes, even Christmas and public holidays! So, you will always be in good hands with our team.