Knowing When to Call an Emergency Plumber | Richmond, VA

6/12/2020

Photo By Ekaterina_Minaeva at Shutterstock

Most people think of a plumbing emergency as gallons of water gushing from broken pipes, an overflowing toilet with a solid clog or a heavily leaking water heater. Actually, anytime something goes wrong with your home’s plumbing system, you need a plumber to make repairs ASAP, so the problem doesn’t escalate.

In most cases, clogged toilets, bathtub/shower drains and kitchen sinks can be unclogged using a plunger. A simple clog typically contains human hair, pet hair, grease, soap residue or something that was simply too large to be flushed or drained away into sewer pipes. The problem with unclogging a drain or toilet without having an emergency plumber also inspect the drain and pipes is–what else could be lurking below the clog that caused the clog to develop in the first place?

If your drains or toilet clog up more than once or twice every six months, they may be something wrong with your sewer lines, such as puncturing of the line by strong tree roots. Sewer system backups caused by damaged sewer lines are a homeowner’s worst nightmare. So always play it safe and call a plumber for leaks, clogs, broken water heaters and broken pipes.

What Can You Do While Waiting for an Emergency Plumber?

Shut Off the Main Water Supply

Minimizing water flow and water damage are the most important things to do when your drains or pipes go haywire. Shutting off the water supply to your home in the event of a pipe bursting or other major plumbing disaster should be done before you call an emergency plumber. Know where the main shut-off valve is for your water supply and make sure the path is always clear for quick access.

Turn Off Your Water Heater

After shutting off the main water valve, turn off your water heater before pressure begins rising inside the water heater. Pressure could exceed a predetermined limit and cause the tank to burst.

Open Spigots Outside Your Home

Most homes have at least one spigot that can be connected to a hose. Opening all spigots, even if you have more than one, will drain out water remaining in your plumbing system inside the home.

Shutting Off Water Only to a Specific Appliance

If you don’t know where the main water shut off valve is, look next to the bottom of your toilet or underneath your sink for the “isolation” valve that shuts off water only to the toilet or sink. Shutting off this valve allows water to keep running in other parts of the home until the emergency plumber has completed repairs.

Temporarily Repair Pipe Cracks with Duct Tape

Duct tape can stop small cracks from leaking until the pipe is fixed. Larger cracks covered with a strip of duct tape may still leak but may minimize water loss until your plumber in the Richmond, VA area arrives.

Is Your House Trying to Tell You It Needs a Plumber?

Your house could be sending you silent indications that something is seriously wrong and demands the attention of a professional plumber. For example:

Discolored or Rust-covered Pipes

Periodically check the exterior appearance of pipes under sinks, in basements and elsewhere pipes remain hidden. Make sure to inspect pipe unions for signs of discoloration or corrosion. If pipes are not clean, this could mean you have a leak. The slower the leak, the more damage is likely to happen if you don’t call an emergency plumber for immediate repairs. Since all plumbing systems are pressurized to ensure good water flow, slow leaks can quickly lead to burst pipes.

Sewer Gas Odors

Smelling sewage in or around your home means you likely have a cracked vent line or a dry trap. Finding cracked sewer vents without the proper equipment is literally like trying to find a needle in a haystack. If it smells like rotten eggs inside or outside your home, call a plumber as soon as possible.

Low Water Pressure

When water streams too slowly out of just one faucet, it usually means the aerator is clogged with lime or you need to replace it because it is damaged. But if water is streaming slowly out of several faucets, you could have a hot water heater problem or cracks in your main water line.

Higher Than Normal Water Bills

If you normally pay around $70 per month for water but your most recent bill exceeded $100, you’ve got major leak issues. Unless you have filled a pool, watered your lawn frequently or otherwise used more water than usual for some reason, you will need an emergency plumber to troubleshoot your home’s plumbing system.

Does Homeowner’s Insurance Cover Plumbing Repairs?

This is one of the most common questions we get asked by our customers at bluefrog Plumbing. The answer depends on whether your policy contains details about coverage for plumbing repairs. Getting your homeowner’s insurance company to pay for plumbing repairs or replacements may also depend on whether damage was caused by lack of adequate maintenance or years of neglect.

In nearly all cases of unexpected or accidental plumbing problems not attributed to neglect, insurance adjusters will likely approve of claims as long as your policy includes paying for having an emergency plumber make repairs.

When You Need an Emergency Plumber, Call bluefrog Plumbing + Drain for Immediate Help

Whether a pipe bursts at 3:00 am, your water heater breaks while taking your morning shower or the sudden odor of sewage drives your family out of your house, we are always open! bluefrog Plumbing + Drain of Richmond, VA is a 24/7 plumbing restoration service providing superior customer attention to all plumbing emergencies and non-emergencies.

Call 804-538-2583 any day of the week, any time of the day when you need a licensed emergency plumber.