5 Types of Plumbing Emergencies
Sometimes it’s difficult to know what is considered a plumbing emergency, as opposed to something that can be dealt with in the next couple of days. It may be tempting to persuade yourself that a problem can be dealt with ‘in normal hours’ but in some situations delaying your call to a plumber could cause major damage to your home.
In this article we look at what is considered a plumbing emergency by plumbing professionals.
A plumbing emergency is defined – in broad terms – as a situation where a major fixture in your home or business has ceased to function. Where this is the case, calling an emergency plumber quickly maintains your safety, limits damage to your home, and minimises the cost of repairs. The Simply Plumbing team has come up with 5 emergency plumbing examples.
1. Blocked Toilet
If the level of water in your toilet bowl is higher than usual, it’s a clear indication that you have a blocked toilet. In some cases, the blockage can be cleared with a plunger, but if you’ve tried this remedy and the water is still high, it’s time to call an emergency plumber.
This is an emergency because you may need to shut off your water at the mains if the water level continues to rise. This will leave your home without a working toilet. In the majority of cases a plumber can unblock your toilet quickly and efficiently.
2. Burst Pipe
A burst pipe may announce itself with a torrent of water gushing through your ceiling. Alternatively, the only signs may be damp patches, an electrical fault, or a loss of water pressure. In either case, it can cause huge damage to your home or place of business.
If you suspect that you may have a problem with a leaking pipe, don’t procrastinate. Call out a plumber to assess the situation quickly. Prompt action could save you thousands of pounds. If, however, water starts coming through the ceiling, turn of the stop cock and call an emergency plumber immediately.
3. Loss of Hot Water
If you suddenly find yourself without hot water, you should call a plumber straight away. It could be as simple as an adjustment of your thermostat settings, or it may be something more serious.
If you’ve made your own checks and can’t find any reason why the temperature has dropped, you have an emergency on your hands. An emergency plumber will be able to diagnose the problem for you and carry out repairs efficiently.
4. Frozen Pipes
A frozen pipe can cause a huge amount of damage unless the problem is diagnosed correctly, and a plumber is called out immediately. The symptoms to look out for are:
- No water flowing from taps.
- Toilet cistern fails to refill after flush.
- Frost is visible on pipes or taps.
- The temperature outside is below freezing.
If you find that your pipes are frozen, it’s vital that you turn of your water supply at the mains and call an emergency plumber immediately.
5. A Leaking Appliance
If your fridge, washing machine, dishwasher, radiator, or boiler springs a leak – however minor – it’s time to call out a plumber. Leaks never remain small. Over time they turn into big leaks, and if left unattended they can cause structural and water damage to your property.
Why Choose Simply Plumbing?
We hope we’ve answered the question ‘what is considered a plumbing emergency?’. If you need an emergency plumber – day or night – call Simply Plumbing. Our team works across South Bedfordshire, and we’ll be with you promptly to assess the problem and apply the appropriate solution.
We’re an independent plumbing business in Luton, which means that we can choose how we work, and – because there’s no management costs – we can keep our prices affordable. Our customers tend to like the fact that if there is a problem with any work we carry out, they can talk directly to the plumber who did the job.
Most of the work we do is in Luton, but we also work in the South Beds region. We can respond quickly to calls from Toddington, Dunstable, Barton-le-Clay, Houghton Regis and Ampthill. If you need a professional plumber fast, don’t hang about – call 01582 250030
