Can you imagine your home without plumbing? Although mostly hidden, your plumbing is one of the most critical systems in your home. It provides fresh and clean water on demand while ensuring that used water is drained away from your home.
However, despite its importance, some homeowners often take it for granted. But when you fail to give it the routine maintenance it needs, your plumbing system can find other ways to get your attention, often in plumbing emergencies.
Unlike minor plumbing inconveniences, a plumbing emergency can risk damage to your property, compromise your family’s safety, and drain your wallet. This article shares some of the most common plumbing emergencies homeowners experience.
1. Water Leaks
Generally, water leaks are not considered a plumbing emergency, especially since most homeowners can quickly resolve most minor leaks. However, if you ignore this small issue, a minor leak can become a major water damage issue requiring emergency plumbing services. It can also be a problem if you have hidden small leaks which can cause structural damage.
Whether you come home to a flooded bathroom, woke up to find a dripping or sagging ceiling, or discover soggy drywalls, such water leak-related issues are considered a plumbing emergency. Since leaks and water damage only worsen if left alone, it’s essential to call a reputable plumber to resolve the issue.
2. Burst Pipe
Next to a water leak, a burst pipe is one of the most common plumbing emergencies. A burst pipe is often caused by a neglected pipe leak that worsens. Due to the water pressure within pipes, damaged, loose, or old pipe leaks can burst and create significant damage within a short period.
Another cause of burst pipes is freezing temperature, which is why burst pipes are relatively common during winter. If not properly drained or insulated, water within the pipes can freeze, which can cause the pipes to expand and crack under pressure.
A single burst pipe can release gallons of water within a few minutes, soaking your home’s structure and personal belongings and creating intensive water damage. That said, in such cases, locating your main water line valve and switching it off can reduce the water supply and control the damage. Moreover, a reputable plumber can help with a resolution to fix damages caused by a burst pipe.
3. Running Toilet
Running a toilet is one of the most annoying and wasteful plumbing issues you can experience. And while a running toilet won’t damage your home like a burst pipe does, it can cause your water bills to skyrocket. It’s worth noting that a single-running toilet can waste up to 200 gallons of water daily. Thus, it’s still considered an emergency that requires prompt repair.
Fortunately, a running toilet is often easy to fix. Typically, this issue is caused by a worn-out or damaged flapper valve, which allows water to flow freely from the tank to the toilet. Replacing this valve should help solve the problem. In other cases, a running toilet is caused by sediment buildup, which is more common in areas with hard water.
If you don’t know what’s causing the issue, you can call a plumber to assess your toilet and provide the right repair services to prevent it from wasting water.
4. Clogged Or Overflowing Toilet
If a running toilet is an annoying issue, a clogged or overflowing toilet is one of the most disgusting plumbing emergencies you’ll experience. While a plunger can quickly fix minor clogs, chronic clogging due to poor toilet use or old fixtures can cause backflows of wastewater.
If your toilet overflows, call a plumber immediately to help identify and fix a backed-up toilet immediately. You don’t want to delay this plumbing emergency if you prefer not to see unimaginable things.
5. Sewage Backup Or Leaks
Another horrifying plumbing emergency homeowners could experience is a sewage backup or leaks. In this case, raw sewage and wastewater back up into your home through its drainage system, including bathtub, toilet, and kitchen sink drains.
As such, any form of sewage leak or backup is the most severe plumbing situation requiring immediate response from the experts. Since it’s sewage water, it can cause a serious threat to your and your family’s safety and health, not to mention all the revolting mess it can create.
Wrapping Up
Plumbing emergencies can be a stressful experience, even dangerous. Regardless of the plumbing problem you experience, a prompt response can help minimize further damage at home. So, if you experience any plumbing emergencies mentioned above, call a reputable plumber immediately to help control and deal with the aftermath. Head over to Inner City Plumbing to find out more about plumbing.
