The 5 Common Plumbing Emergencies That Homeowners Experience

Although there are numerous issues that a homeowner has to contend with from time to time, none are more aggravating and troublesome than plumbing emergencies. Many plumbing experts will tell you that these plumbing emergencies are attributed to homeowner negligence or oversight rather than defective components and materials. Unfortunately, plumbing problems are not uncommon in areas such as Brooklyn and Queens, Nassau County and Suffolk County, and other areas of Long Island.

Preventative care and maintenance will decrease the risk of experiencing most plumbing emergencies. However, it will also ensure that your drains, fixtures, and pipes continue to operate properly. It will also enable the homeowner to identify potential problems so that those inconveniences do not occur with any frequency. Fortunately, if you do experience a plumbing emergency and live in any of the areas mentioned above, Plumbing Emergency Rescue can resolve those issues in a timely manner.

The following are the 5 most common plumbing emergencies that we are called out to repair:

• Blocked drains or toilets – if you have a plumbing snake or plunger, you can try to dislodge the obstruction yourself. If this doesn’t work, then your only option is to contact an emergency plumber to correct the problem.
• Burst pipes – before the plumber arrives to resolve this issue, you should locate your home’s shutoff valve and stop the flow of water. This will enable you remove a lot of the water that has accumulated from the leak and help you to prevent any further damage from occurring. Also, turn your cold water taps on to remove any remaining water from your pipes.
• Frozen pipes – this is a common problem throughout the Long Island area as well as the other NYC boroughs. If the freeze is hard enough, the water in your pipes will expand and could cause them to burst. Again, you want to close the shutoff valve. Gently thaw out the pipes that are the closest to the taps using hot water bottles to avoid further damage. Insulation placed around your pipes before winter sets in will help you avoid this problem.
• Gas leaks – this is not something that even a skilled DIY’er should attempt to correct given the deadly nature of the problem. Your best option is to evacuate the premises and contact 24-hour plumbing company or service such as Plumbing Emergency Rescue or your local gas company’s emergency hotline.
• Leaking fixtures – once you have closed your main shutoff valve, check the traps on your fixtures for debris, food particles, hair, soap scum, and anything else that may be obstructing them. This will prevent any overflowing from occurring.

If you are experience any of these problems, call Plumbing Emergency Rescue immediately after you have taken the recommended steps to prevent further damage or danger. Even if you suspect there may be a problem, we encourage you to contact us so we can evaluate your situation and make our recommendations.