How to handle a plumbing emergency at home
San Diego residents are lucky to have the best weather in the country, but is our luck running out?
Last winter, when many areas of the nation were hit with record low temperatures, we stayed safe. We didn’t have to deal with icy roads, biting wind chill, and maybe most importantly for our homes – frozen pipes.
However, warm weather doesn’t mean that our residences are immune to catastrophes. At some point, plumbing problems affect everyone, no matter how pleasant the conditions are for your pipes.
Whether you live in the Gaslamp Quarter or near the San Diego Zoo, sooner or later you may fall victim to a ruptured sewer line, backflow failure, or a busted pipe. The results can cause a major disruption to your daily life, not to mention create mind-blowing costs.
Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all solution for a last-minute disaster, but you can follow a few simple guidelines to help you through it.
Turn off the water
One of the most common emergencies at home is a flood. It can happen for a variety of reasons: a clogged toilet, a broken line, or water main failure. Ultimately, though, it doesn’t make a difference. Floods simply don’t belong indoors.
After you get over your initial reaction of “I can’t believe this is happening!”, you’ll need to take some practical steps to stop it. One of the best things to do to prevent the deluge from destroying your residence is to simply turn off the water.
To do this, locate the water supply valve or stopcock. Inside, you can probably find it wherever the main water line enters the home, usually in or near the kitchen. In most cases, it’ll have a round handle that you can turn and tighten.
Outside, you should shut off the water to the entire home. If you don’t know where it is, look for your house’s water meter. Typically the supply valve will be adjacent, and you can either turn it off by hand or with a pipe wrench.
Call a pro
If water is flowing everywhere, soaking your floors and who knows what else, you shouldn’t wait to figure out the problem; you may only cause more damage.
Instead, call the best emergency plumber San Diego has to offer. For years, Boyd Collins has been the city’s go-to company for the worst last-minute disasters. From interior deluges in downtown, to trenchless sewer repair in La Jolla, we can fix the problem, calm your nerves, and ultimately save you money.
Identify the source of the problem
It’s important to know where the water is coming from. If it’s a toilet or sink, this won’t be difficult. You can then focus on starting the repair. But if, for example, your ceiling is bulging from H2O build-up, the culprit may be trickier to locate.
If you’re familiar with your home’s plumbing schema and possess some DIY skills, you can try digging a little, but be careful. You don’t want to exacerbate the problem. The best rule of thumb is if you’re unsure, call a professional.
