There is always a demand for plumbers in the job market and it’s no secret why—it’s work that no one else wants to do! Plumbing issues are a given for any homeowner (or renter for that matter) and they can be costly if not quickly identified and remedied. Water damage never gets better, only worse. It’s important to familiarize yourself with the signs of the following common plumbing emergencies so you know when to call your friendly neighborhood plumber.
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Clogged Pipes
If you have ever noticed water draining slowly (or not at all!) in your sinks, bath tub, or shower, chances are your pipes are clogged. Pipe clogs are caused by debris in the pipe that block the flow of water, usually by the presence of foreign substances, such as hair or grease. Your first line of defense is to use a plunger to try to unclog the pipe and if that doesn’t work, try using a declogging chemical solvent. While there are many products you can purchase to unclog your pipes, such as drain-o or hair snaking tools, you may need to call a plumber if you can’t resolve it.
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Burst Pipes
The signs of burst pipes are pretty obvious—water everywhere! This is a common occurrence during especially cold freezing temperatures—which is why it’s important to leave your faucets on slightly to keep the water flowing. You can also open up the cabinet under the sink to allow more heat to warm the pipes. Sometimes, however, burst pipes have nothing to do with the weather. Pipes can burst simply because they are old or because something is causing them to crack—such as tree roots growing inside. Your first line of defense here is to shut off your water at the main valve and then call a DC emergency plumber immediately.
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Running Toilets
Not only is a toilet that won’t quit running annoying but it can also be very expensive! A running toilet is wasting gallons of water which is bad for the environment and your pocketbook. There are three main components of a toilet that could be malfunctioning for this to happen: the chain, the flapper, or the balloon. Before diagnosing anything, it’s probably a good idea to turn off the water valve to the toilet or things could get messy.
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Sewer Back-Up
Finally, sewer back-ups happen. It’s important to know the signs so that you can react quickly before things get worse. You might notice your toilets gurgling or a sewer odor (yuck!). You may have multiple clogs at once in your home. All of these things indicate a sewer back up. Unfortunately, there’s not much you can do yourself here except call a professional. Trust me, you won’t want to handle the clean-up yourself either. Sewer back-ups can happen when there is an abnormal amount of rainfall, when tree roots grow into pipes, or simply because of old pipes that need to be replaced.