Burst pipes. Broken water heaters. Clogged drains. All of these can be classified as a type of plumbing emergency.

Dickson Plumbing is a service in North Carolina. But these steps can help you no matter where your emergency may be.

These can be extra stressful. Many people don’t know what to do when these, and other, plumbing emergencies can happen.

If you experience a plumbing emergency in Northeastern, NC contact us today.

So, what should you do in a plumbing emergency?

In this article we will cover 4 steps to take during a plumbing emergency.

The actions you take in a plumbing emergency really depends on the emergency. But, there are a few things you can do to make it easier on yourself, and the plumber coming to help.

Types of Plumbing Emergencies

First things first, what is a plumbing emergency?

If you are in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, A plumbing emergency is a malfunction of your in-home plumbing system.

Plumbing emergencies can look like a multitude of things. Such as:

• Clogged drains
• Broken water heaters
• Leaky pipes
• Burst pipes
• Gas leaks

Of course, there are many more types of plumbing emergencies. But, these are some of the more common ones that you may call your local plumber for. If you are in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, call us now.

These are in-home emergencies that aren’t handled by your local public utilities department.

Now, because of the range of possible things that can go wrong with your plumbing. There are many possible courses of action to take when a plumbing emergency happens.

Step 1- Locate the source of the plumbing emergency

There are many things that can indicate that you have a potential need for an emergency plumber. Many of these things rely on your attention to your home, and using your senses.

Seeing Signs of a Plumbing Emergency

If you see puddles anywhere strange, that is a big sign that you may have a plumbing emergency.

Other visible signs of plumbing emergencies include things like:

• Water damage on the walls
• Bulging ceilings
• Bubbles in standing water
• Dirt blowing around
• Etc

Another way to use your sense of sight to determine if you’ve got a plumbing emergency is to look at your utility/water bill. If you’ve got an outrageously high water bill, you’ve most likely got a leak hidden somewhere around your home.

Smelling Signs of a Plumbing Emergency

When I mention that you can use smell to detect a plumbing emergency, your first thought may go to detecting a gas leak. This is because people are generally taught that in-home gas smells like rotten eggs. But, believe it or not, you can also detect leaky and burst pipes this way.

If you have a mold or mildew scent in your home that you can’t get rid of, it’s mostly likely a sign of a plumbing emergency.

Hearing Signs of a Plumbing Emergency

Some plumbing emergencies are able to be heard. If you have a water pump that is continuously turning on and off. When you’re not using the water. You may have a pipe leaking somewhere that you can’t see.

In some cases, people have heard pipes burst. What does this sound like? Well, sometimes a pipe bursting can sound like a loud “popping” noise. Sometimes, bursting pipes can sound similar to a car backfiring or a gun going off.

If you can’t find the source, don’t worry! Call your plumber to come and assess the situation.

Step 2- Turn off the closest water source to the emergency

Turning off the closest water source in a plumbing emergency can sometimes be the difference between $100 worth of damage and $1,000. In the case of a burst pipe, you will most likely have to turn off your main home water supply. If your toilet is clogged or overflowing, turning the little valve off at the back of it is likely your most simple course of action.

In the case of a gas leak, call your local fire department and your local gas company to report the leak. They can help you make sure your gas line is shut off. Once that is done, get in touch with your plumber.

Step 3- Keep the affected area as dry as possible

In case of an emergency with your plumbing, you want to keep things as dry as possible. When you have a burst or leaky water pipe, water can get everywhere. After you’ve turned off the nearest, or main, water supply. You want to do as much as you can to prevent anymore damage.

If the problem isn’t life threatening, try to look for the source of the problem. Is it a leaky or burst pipe? An overflowing toilet? Something else that can cause copious amounts of water damage?

Be sure to dry up anything that water has gotten on. Use towels, buckets, and sponges to dry off any affected areas even if they’re already damaged. This can prevent further damage from occurring. You can place buckets or containers under leaking pipes in order to keep them from spilling more water everywhere.

If the leak is small. And on a reachable, temperature safe pipe. You may be able to temporarily stem the leak by using plumbers tape to keep excess water from spilling out. Remember: This is only a temporary fix.

Step 4- Call your plumber in Northeastern, NC!

In some plumbing emergencies, people forget to call their plumber! I have gotten so stressed from an emergency, that I’ve forgotten to contact someone who can actually help me!

Don’t forget that there are people out there who are qualified to fix your plumbing emergency in Elizabeth City, North Carolina.

In many plumbing emergencies, home insurance coverage may cover damage caused by water. However you will need to contact your insurer for specific details.

Wrapping Things Up

Plumbing emergencies can be extremely stressful. Especially if you don’t have any past experience with them. Preventative measures can only do so much.

In order to minimize damage and make plumbing emergencies easier on yourself, and your plumber, be sure to follow the steps outlined in this article.