Plumbing emergencies can strike at any time, yet they tend to have a knack for popping up at the most inconvenient times, like when you’re about to go to sleep or settle in for a binge-watching session.
It can be frustrating, but it doesn’t have to be stressful. While your first instinct might be to freak out, the best way to manage these situations is by keeping a level head. So, to help you handle these unexpected situations without losing your cool, we’ve compiled seven stress-free tips to help you manage while you wait for the pros.
1. Stay Calm and Assess the Situation
Most of all, you need to stay calm. Panicking doesn’t fix a thing, it just makes the whole situation seem worse and feel overwhelming. So, take a deep breath and assess the situation as calmly as possible.
Take a moment to consider the nature of the issue, what’s causing it and your next actions. Burst pipes, leaks or blocked drains all require different methods to fix them, so it’s important to take note.
2. Call a 24-Hour Plumber
Obviously, the first step is to call in backup! I know we said, tips for while you wait, but in the heat of the moment, it’s easy to forget the simple step of picking up the phone. So, before you move on to handling the issue, take a moment to contact your local emergency plumbing service.
You can either do this as step one or step two, however, calling us after you’ve calmed down a little and assessed the situation will allow you to provide us more information.
3. Shut off the Water Supply
Regardless of the nature of the plumbing emergency, your next step should be to shut off your mains water supply. This can be found near your water meter at the front of your property. Just give it a good turn all the way to shut off the water.
This should stop the leak or water flow temporarily until the plumbers can get to you and fix the issue properly. This will give you a chance to breathe freely and relax for a second before you have to put in the elbow grease to clean up the mess and standing water.
4. Turn Off Nearby Appliances
If you can do so safely, you should also turn off any nearby electrical appliances. It’s no secret that electricity and water create a dangerous duo. So, to prevent creating dangerous situations, power shorts, or damaging your appliances you need to turn off any powerpoints or outlets in the water’s tracks.
However, if they’re already wet or submerged, stay away from them and out of the water! Water is an excellent conductor, so if your appliances are turned on and submerged the water could be electrified.
And if you power shorts it’s best to leave it until the area is dry before switching it back on. It is always better to be safe than sorry.
5. Gather Emergency Plumbing Supplies
Next, you can gather your trusty emergency plumbing kit. If you don’t have one handy, don’t stress. A simple emergency plumbing supply kit is the essentials that you should have around the house anyway.
This generally consists of buckets, towels, mops and gloves to clean up the mess and dry any standing water safely and effectively. It may also include a few tools for simple DIYs, such as a wrench, pliers set or plunger.
Depending on the issue, you are likely better off waiting for the experts for repairs, especially if they are already on their way. Instead, focus on protecting your belongings and minimising water damage by drying the water.
6. Contain the Mess
If your bathroom or kitchen looks like a mini indoor swimming pool, you need to contain it. Water likes to spread, and as it does it can damage your furnishings or structures. So the quicker you dry it or contain it, the better.
Using the towels, buckets and mops you gathered, get to work. Create towel barriers in doorways to soak the water as it spreads. Put buckets under taps or pipes that are still dripping to prevent further issues and mop the floor where you can to dry it and remove any bacteria and germs.
7. Document the Damage
Finally, take note. If you’re in a rental or want to lodge an insurance claim, having photographic or video evidence can go a long way. So, if you can, take a little time to get photos or videos of the plumbing issue and damage.
This won’t fix the issue now, but it can help to save a lot of hassle later on, so it is worth the time.
Manage Plumbing Emergencies Stree-free
While a plumbing emergency can seem like the end of the world when you are in it, it doesn’t have to be. With these seven stress-free tips you can manage plumbing emergencies like a pro, with a level head until the experts can get to you.
Remember, if you ever find yourself in the middle of a plumbing issue, we can help! Our experienced emergency plumbers are ready and able to help 24 hours a day, every day of the year, so you are never alone.
