There are times when a plumbing issue in the home is one that you don’t need to call a professional for. Putting in a bit of effort and using the right tools in the proper way can get you the results you want when it comes to common problems. A clogged toilet, for example, often only requires the correct usage of a plunger. If you call a plumber, they will use the exact same tool to do the job, only now you’re paying for it.
However, there are times when a plumbing situation is so difficult or complex that you can damage your home or even put other residents at risk if you attempt to fix a problem yourself without the right knowledge and expertise. Some plumbing issues need immediate professional attention due to their severity, but how do you determine this? Here are three scenarios that qualify as a plumbing emergency.
You Smell Sewage
Even if there are no blocked pipes and you do not see leaks anywhere, this is always a bad sign and should be responded to immediately. One of the most dangerous causes of this is breakage somewhere in your drainage pipe.
Under ordinary circumstances, your drainage pipe is a sealed system, carrying wastewater—including from the toilet—safely out of the home and into the sewer system. If you smell sewage, this could mean some of that sewage is now being deposited somewhere on the property, maybe even within the home itself.
Raw sewage is extremely dangerous. Simply touching it could lead to the transmission of a disease. This presents a serious health hazard that should be taken care of by professionals as quickly as possible.
Burst Or Leaking Pipes
Pipes are made out of either metal or, in more recent years, plastic polyvinyl chloride (PVC) for drainage purposes. In both cases, however, the pipes are meant to do one thing, and that is to remain watertight for decades. There are early 20th century homes with cast iron pipes that are over 100 years old but are still working today!
While they are durable, pipes don’t last forever. Time or excessive use can cause them to break eventually. If that happens with a water pipe, water will leak or spray out until the water supply is shut off and the pipe is repaired. Depending on where the problem is, this could also mean water damage for the walls and ceilings.
Flooding
This is another situation that should be addressed immediately. Flooding may be the result of a blockage, a severe burst of water mains somewhere, or natural events like excessive rainfall. Whatever the case is, finding the source of the flood and dealing with it is far from easy.
When facing a flood, there’s also a possible health risk due to contaminated water. This is especially true if the flooding has reached a sewer and sewage water is flowing back up drainage pipes and into homes.
If you have a plumbing emergency, we can help. Contact us today, and our team will put you in touch with seasoned providers of emergency plumbing services.