As mildly annoying as the occasional plumbing issue can be, the truth is that not all of them are plumbing emergencies. You can sometimes tell when something constitutes an emergency, such as water pooling in one room or another, or water going somewhere it shouldn’t.
However, not all plumbing emergencies in your property in Five Dock have obvious signs, and if you’re not careful, you could end up paying more in repairs because a problem got out of hand. On the other hand, some issues that seem like emergencies can actually wait a little longer; you won’t have a crisis on your hands, and you won’t have to pay extra for the work done. Knowing that, how can you tell when you need to call emergency plumbing services? Here are a few things to look out for.
You can smell sewage
When you turn on a faucet, there should be hardly any smell, except perhaps that of wet metal. But if there’s an unpleasant scent to the water, or you can smell sewage in places where you have plumbing fixtures and drains, something may have gone wrong with your septic system, sump pump, or some other part of your plumbing system. In the case of a backed-up sewer, it won’t be long before all that water ends up in your home, and when that happens, you’ll be unable to use your sinks, toilet, and showers until the line is fixed.
So if you smell something off – anything that you don’t usually smell whenever you use your plumbing – call an emergency plumber right away so you can schedule an appointment as soon as possible.
You have a leaking pipe
A leak may seem like a small problem, and sometimes it is. However, there are cases where a leaky pipe can lead to a burst pipe, and then you’ll have to deal with flooding on top of everything else. That’s why it’s important that you use the main shut-off valve to keep water from going into your home as soon as possible after you spot a leak, especially if it’s a significant one. That way, you lessen the potential water damage to your home if the pipe does end up bursting. Then call a professional for emergency repair work.
You notice your water heater leaking
If your water heater has developed a leak, it’s crucial that you call a plumber to look it over and repair or replace it. That heater could hold up to 50 gallons of water, and if the leak gets worse, there’s no reliable way to control that much liquid, which could mean you’re looking at significant water damage as well as flooding and water heater replacement.
As with a leaking pipe, turn off the water to your home, and then turn off the water to the heater before calling a plumber for help. The sooner this is addressed, the lesser your risk of dealing with sudden flooding, and you’ll be able to use hot water for bathing and washing sooner, too.
There are a few other signs that you need an emergency plumber, but these are the more common – and crucial – ones. If you need more information about plumbing services or want to know whom to contact, you can check out this website to book an emergency plumber in Five Dock.
