Every Canadian homeowner dreads it. Frozen, leaking and burst pipes invite your worst nightmares, especially during harsh winters. Many plumbing emergencies, from leaking or burst pipes to clogged drains, can result in lasting damage to your property.
In these plumbing emergencies, time is of the essence. You can save thousands of dollars dealing with extensive repairs later if you act fast.
Here’s how you can prevent the situation from escalating any further:
Close Off the Main Water Valve
Panicking is a natural reaction in a plumbing emergency. The sight of an overflowing toilet or water gushing out of burst pipes can leave you feeling unnerved, confused, and worried. But before you start packing your belongings and move them to a safer place, first and foremost – turn off your main water valve.
Whatever damage has occurred can only be fixed by a reliable, licensed plumbing service. While waiting for the plumber to arrive, you need to work to prevent further destruction of your property. Pull yourself together and put an end to this calamity before it becomes worse. Closing off the main water valve is a start. The main valve can usually be found next to the water meter.
Contact a Reliable, Licensed Plumbing Service
Shutting off your water is the most crucial emergency measure you can take. From there, it’s best to let a licensed plumbing professional deal with the rest. You may have the skills and the knowledge to fix minor leaks. However, a burst pipe, leaky pipe, clogged sewer drain, or a water-damaged electrical appliance indicate an emergency and a disaster waiting to happen.
Call a plumber – fast! Sewer Squad Plumbing & Drain Services has served Canadian homeowners for more than two decades. Not only do we provide accurate diagnoses of plumbing issues, but we also use the latest technology and equipment to repair water damage with minimal inconvenience or mess.
Retrieve Precious Items
Once you shut off the water, do your best to retrieve your valuables from the affected area. Do not leave jewelry, glasses, contact lenses, or electronic items on the sink’s edge. While removing them from the flooded bathroom or toilet, try not to slip and hurt yourself in the process.
However, if your precious belongings are already in the drain, do not try to recover them yourself. And do not turn the main water valve back on just yet, for any reason—instead, wait for your plumber to arrive and let them save the day for you.
Snap a Few Pictures
While waiting for help to arrive, take photos or record a video of the plumbing emergency you’re facing. These videos or photos will later serve as proof if you need to make an insurance claim after the situation has been resolved.
Your plumber might need those pictures too. After the repairs are complete, take a few more photos for your records. But remember, this isn’t your topmost priority. We strongly advise taking the above three emergency measures first before you start snapping pictures.
Control the Extent of the Damage
Before a licensed plumber arrives at your location, try to control or reduce the extent of the damage by:
- Enlist temporary fixes: Place buckets beneath a leaking pipe or a faucet. Apart from that, you can also place old rags or towels to soak up as much water as possible. Use plumber’s tape to stop minor leaks if you can. Having these resources at home is essential to containing the situation and keeping it from getting out of hand.
- Switch off your water heater: This is a big one, especially if your water heater is gas-operated. Otherwise, you’re looking at a potential gas leak, which is more challenging to tackle. A word of caution: switch off the water heater after closing the main valve.
- Open all doors and windows: If you suspect that the gas has already started leaking, turn off the water heater and open all doors and windows in your home.
These are all, however, temporary fixes. Even a small water leak can be indicative of a bigger problem. Therefore, it never hurts to allow a licensed plumbing service to conduct an accurate diagnosis of your home’s entire plumbing system.
Over to You
It’s always better to be safe than sorry. Even if you aren’t currently dealing with a leak or a burst pipe, it’s wise to stay informed. These tips will help you handle an emergency when it knocks on your door. And when that happens, Sewer Squad Plumbing & Drain Services will be just a call away. For more helpful advice, or if you’re currently facing a plumbing emergency, call us at 416-571-8499.
Help will be on the way!