How to Handle a Plumbing Emergency

The best time to find a plumber to handle an emergency is before an emergency occurs. Ask family and friends for recommendations and plumbers they have used in the past and get the name of a reliable plumber or two.

Since plumbing emergencies happen at all times of the day or night, make sure the plumber offers 24-hour emergency service. It would only be to the customer’s advantage to test drive the plumber and their skills with a scheduled, routine repair or replacement task.

This gets the customer on the books and into their database. Always have an understanding of what types of services the plumber will and will not cover and what they consider emergencies. Always make sure the plumber is properly licensed and insured. A plumbing emergency can be as simple as a clogged toilet or as devastating as a water pipe that has burst due to cold weather or age.

Any plumbing problem can turn from a simple to a major repair if not dealt with in a timely manner. The only thing a customer should do when a plumbing emergency arises is to turn the water valve off to avoid or at least minimize water damage and then call the plumber. Plumbing fixtures have individual water shut off valves.

The toilet shut off valve can be found behind or the side of the fixture, and for sinks, the valve is usually under the sink. If the fixture valve is not accessible or cannot be found, shut the main water valve off, and that is usually found in the basement with the water meter. Plumbers are not only licensed to handle leaking water pipes and clogged plumbing fixtures, they are also trained and licensed to handle gas appliance and fixture related installation, maintenance and repair.

If a gas related problem arises, it is best to evacuate the premises until the problem has been repaired. No matter how simple the plumbing task may be customers should never try to fix the problem themselves. Plumbing is regulated by codes that must be followed not only to maintain the integrity of the plumbing system but for the health and welfare of the customer.

Are you prepared for a plumbing emergency in the Nashville area? Contact Green Hills Plumping at (615) 866-1917 and schedule a service call today!