When your toilets, showers and drains stop working the way they should it’s a plumbing emergency. Emergency plumbers spend years gaining technical expertise and experience to help them deal with tricky situations.
You can reduce the number of Emergency Plumbing in Portland OR you have by following a few simple maintenance tips. Keep your emergency plumber’s telephone number handy and include it in your ‘in case of emergencies’ contacts list.
Leaks
Over time copper pipes can wear down and develop pinhole leaks. This is a plumbing emergency and should be addressed as soon as possible to prevent water damage and costly repairs. If you notice a leaking toilet or bathtub, turn off the water supply at the water meter. Then place a bucket under the leak to catch the water and call a plumber. Alternatively, you can try to patch the leak by wrapping some electrical tape around the hole or using duct tape to hold it together. Remember that the plumber may need to shut off your water and possibly gas supplies to work safely in your home.
Another reason to treat a leak as an emergency is that it could lead to mold growth. Mold is not only unsightly, but it also poses a health threat. It also loves to grow in damp areas and can quickly spread throughout your house. By turning off the water in a timely manner and calling a plumber, you can avoid these problems.
Clogs
Clogged drains are a common Emergency Plumbing in Portland OR that can be caused by many different things. If the clogged drain is in a place that you use frequently and it’s not going away with regular plunger attempts, then it’s time to call an emergency plumber.
It’s also important to monitor how your drains empty throughout the house, so you’ll know if they aren’t working as well as they should be. You can prevent clogs by following the usage directions for toilets, shower and bath drains and garbage disposals and making sure no one is flushing prohibited items such as feminine products or kitty litter down them.
Clogged drains aren’t just annoying and inconvenient; they can lead to serious damage to your pipes over time if the clog gets big enough. Make sure to have a professional conduct routine maintenance inspections. This will help avoid clogs and other emergencies, such as burst pipes. During these inspections, they will be able to identify any areas of concern and address them before they become big problems.
Frozen Pipes
Pipes can freeze when they’re exposed to cold temperatures, especially in attics, crawl spaces and other unheated areas. This is a common plumbing problem during winter months and can result in costly repairs if the frozen pipes burst.
A good way to prevent frozen pipes is by adding pipe insulation, which is relatively inexpensive at most hardware stores. Frozen pipes can also be thawed by opening any faucets connected to the affected area and applying heat to the frozen area with a space heater, heat lamp or hair dryer (do not use a propane torch, as this is a fire hazard).
When a pipe does freeze, it’s important to shut off the water supply to that section of the house and call a plumber right away. Be sure to check all other faucets in the home, as one frozen pipe often means there are others. This issue is also covered by many homeowner’s insurance plans, though specific coverage varies by plan and insurer.
Flooding
We often take the availability of clean, running water for granted. However, the plumbing system in a house is complex and needs to be well maintained to ensure that water is always available when we need it.
One of the most common plumbing emergencies is flooding caused by burst pipes. If your home experiences this issue, you should turn off the main water valve to stop the flow of water and contact an emergency plumber right away.
Other situations that can be considered a plumbing emergency include water that has a foul smell, which may indicate a sewage leak in your pipes. This is an urgent situation because it can cause damage to your property and potentially health issues for you and your family. An emergency plumber will be able to locate the source of the leak and fix it as soon as possible. Likewise, if your hot water heater is leaking, this should also be treated as an emergency situation.