Plumbing emergencies don’t just happen suddenly. They are the result of plumbing issues that were left unaddressed for a long time, finally erupting with a severity that causes significant and costly damage to your property.
These problems could have been avoided, had you paid attention to your plumbing maintenance—identifying damages in their early stages and knowing when to replace fixtures and other plumbing parts.
It’s never too late, though. Preventing a plumbing emergency is easy when you know how to look after your plumbing system and when to contact your local Sydney plumber. The right preparation can help you minimise the damage when an emergency arises, if not completely avoid it.
But, exactly what constitutes a plumbing emergency that warrants a call for emergency plumbers?
5 Plumbing Emergencies You Should Know
Burst Pipes – Several factors can result in burst pipes, including corrosion and ageing. This emergency can send a flood of water to your property, damaging your fixtures, furniture, and flooring.
Running Toilet – Like burst pipes, a malfunctioning toilet is a costly plumbing emergency as it adds up to your water consumption. Leave it unaddressed and you’ll be dealing with unusually high water bills.
Sewer Backups – A sewer backup is an indication of a blockage somewhere in your plumbing system. Signs of this emergency issue include foul smell from the drains and gurgling toilets.
Overflowing Toilets & Drains – When remedies such as plungers and a plumber’s snake no longer work, clogged toilets and drains can lead to the overflowing of water or in worse cases, flooding.
Major Leaks – Not all leaks are a plumbing emergency. But, when it’s already causing major flooding and property damage, make sure that you call an emergency plumber to handle it immediately.
Proper Plumbing Maintenance
- Schedule Routine Plumbing Maintenance
Regular checkups are necessary to detect plumbing issues while in their early stages. Plus, working with your local plumber guarantees to keep your plumbing system functional and healthy, thus preventing plumbing emergencies to happen.
We recommend you to schedule an appointment at least once a year. A little extra cost can go a long way in cutting down your plumbing repair costs and even extending the lifespan of your plumbing system.
- Replace Old Plumbing Parts
Another benefit of routine plumbing maintenance is that you get to identify the parts that are already showing signs of wear and tear and the fixtures that are nearing the end of their useful life. For example, an average water heater has a lifespan of 10-15 years, but that could greatly vary based on your location, usage, and how you maintain it.
By inspecting it closely, you would better know when it already needs replacement.
- Avoid DIY Repairs
While you can get away with some minor fixes such as unclogging the toilet using a plunger or replacing the water to stop the leaks, some problems are best left to your plumber—with emergency plumbing issues included. Plus, it’s illegal to do your own plumbing work.
More often than not, unskilled repairs can worsen the problem. When it happens, expect to shell out more money to fix the extra damage you created.
- Use Chemical Solutions Sparingly
The fumes of drain cleaning chemicals can be toxic when inhaled, particularly when mixed with other chemicals such as bleach. Plus, these solutions may not work for all plumbing systems, thus may potentially do more harm than good.
Therefore, if you can’t completely avoid it, at least minimise the use of these solutions when treating a blockage. It remains best to call a plumber and safer, too.
- Practice Good Plumbing Etiquette
Prevention is better than cure, even in your plumbing system. You can save yourself from the stress and cost involved in dealing with plumbing emergencies by observing proper plumbing etiquette:
– Avoid dumping grease, coffee grounds, toilet paper, and anything that could clog your drains.
– Run hot water through the sink regularly to keep oils and products from building up within the pipes.
– Cover your drain’s opening with a screen or a drain-grate to catch food residues, hair, soap scum, etc.
– Don’t use your garbage disposal as trash cans to preserve the life of your unit.
– Deep clean your drains at least every month, using an enzyme-based cleaner, instead of a chemical-based one. You can use a homemade cleaning solution, too.
Have we missed any plumbing maintenance tips? Share your thoughts by leaving a comment!
Schedule your routine plumbing maintenance with your local plumber today!