Plumbing emergencies. They strike when you least expect them to and can cause a whole host of issues. And if you’ve ever been awakened by the sound of gushing water or gotten into the shower of a trickle rather than the usual power you’re used to getting, you will know that sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach telling you something isn’t right.
But what do you do exactly when your plumbing goes awry and decides it’s time to give you one more problem to sort out?
This is a collaborative post.
Don’t Panic
It’s a natural reaction, but panic can lead you to make the wrong decision. So the first thing to do before you run around the house, grabbing towels, buckets, bowls to catch the water, is to stop, take a breath, and collect yourself.
Turn off the Stopcock
Next, you need to turn off the stopcock. This is going to stop the water from pumping all over the house or building up if there’s a blockage. Typically, it’s tucked away somewhere discreet, but that makes sense. So under the kitchen sink, in the downstairs toilet, or in a cupboard by the pipes. In some houses, especially newer ones, it might be a bright blue switch in your kitchen or bathroom that you need to turn off like you would a plug socket. But in the case of standard stopcocks, turn it clockwise to shut it off completely. This way, you’re not cleaning up water as more is spreading.
Turn Off Electrics
This is important in the event of a flood from a burst pipe or something similar. You need to turn off your electricity because everyone knows water and electricity don’t mix, and if the leak is by wiring, light fittings or sockets, it can cause the electricity to short-circuit, give electric shocks, or even start a fire. So in the meantime, until you get the plumbing issues resolved, turn off the electrics for the entire property or at least isolate them where the leak is.
Contain The Mess
As much as you can, clean up any mess caused by your plumbing disaster. This will stop it from travelling to other rooms or causing further damage from being left to sit in place. Use towels, buckets, pans, bowls, anything you have to hand to remove the water and start the drying out process.
Call The Professionals
In times like these, you need emergency plumbing services as soon as possible. Call around to find a reliable local emergency plumber to help you resolve your plumbing woes and get things running and back to normal. Ideally, you will want to check reviews, etc., ahead of time, but when time is of the essence and you need a plumber fast, you forgo the usual checks; however, it’s still worth verifying reviews and ratings before contacting a plumber.
Plumbing emergencies aren’t fun—no one wants to deal with a flood at midnight or no pressure in their shower at 7 a.m. when they’re running late for work, but sadly, your plumbing emergencies don’t care. But remember to turn the water off, start the clean-up, and call an emergency plumber to get back on track.