What to do in a Plumbing Emergency?


plumbing emergency

A plumbing emergency is a real inconvenience!

It’s the last thing you want when you get home from work and want a warm bath. It can be a real struggle having to sort out a blocked sink or burst pipe on your own. Importantly if you do not contact a plumber, further costs could arise!

By the end of this article, you will have greater knowledge on how to deal with a plumbing emergency, when to call an emergency plumber, and what steps should be taken to protect your house from damage.

First of all, here are some common plumbing and heating issues we have fixed in the past:

· Blocked sinks

· Toilet stopped flushing

· Toilet keeps running water

· Clogged up pipes

· Leaking pipes

· Taps are constantly running

· Blocked toilets

· Poor water pressure

This list highlights just a few plumbing problems, let us know what the issue is and we can try to help straight away.

If you are having a plumbing issue and you decide to leave the problem untreated, it’s likely that this will add unnecessary repair work which could cause increased cost and long term damage to your home. The message is: DO NOT LEAVE IT TO CHANCE!

What should you do in a plumbing emergency?

Turn off the electricity

If there is a leak in that has the potential run onto any electrical sockets or switches, the very first thing to do is switch off the electricity. Water and electricity do not mix, and if the electricity is left on, there could be some devastating consequences.

If water has gotten into sockets or plugs you need to make sure that everything is fully dry before turning the electricity back on.

Turn off the water

You should turn the water off in the case of a plumbing emergency. You’ll need to find the internal stop tap, and they are often located under the sink, in a downstairs bathroom, in an airing cupboard, under the stairs or in the cellar.

Once you’ve found the main water valve, turn it clockwise to turn off the water supply. Then turn the hot and cold water taps on to completely drain the system.

This should stop any leaks in their tracks and allow you to safely carry out any repairs.

Control leaks

You will be able to control small leaks by placing a bucket under the drip or maybe a towel around the burst pipe. This will limit any further damage to your home.

Call a plumber

After this step, it’s best to get the professionals involved. Call G&K to get a plumber swiftly out to your property to assess your plumbing problems.

Top 3 Plumbing Emergencies

Burst Pipes

burst pipe

When there is a drop in temperature, water can freeze inside the pipes. Frozen pipes are a big problem because water expands inside the pipe which results in it bursting.

Small leaks create an ideal spot for mould to grow which can cause a terrible smell to the property and damage over time.

What to do:

· Turn off the water to property .

· Open taps if you believe it is coming from a hot or cold water pipe (sometimes there may be isolation valves to enable you shut the water off to the specific pipe. If you are aware of this, you can shut this off).

· If there is a possibility water could go onto electrics or electrical appliances, you may want to consider isolating your electrics at your main electric board.

· Contact G&K (if you do not live within our working area, contact a trusted professional plumber).

Boiler Breakdowns

boiler breakdowns

There are a variety of reasons why your boiler may not be working, which can be identified when booking a boiler service. Common examples include the boiler pressure being too low or too high, a power cut, gas supply issues, a faulty pilot light, a frozen condensate pipe, faulty internal components or a more complex issue.

What to do:

· Check if the boiler is under its manufacturer’s warranty Note: If under warranty, there may be a possibility the fault is with another part of your heating system. If so, you may incur a charge for the call out from the manufacturer and still be left without heating or hot water. Give us a call on 01273 457742 and we can attempt to point you in the right direction.

· Contact the manufacturer if the boiler is within its warranty.

· If your boiler is not under warranty, you can reference the manufacturer’s instructions to see if there is a possibility you can reset, repressurise your boiler or other instructions which may get you up and running. Be careful though, we attend many properties where customers have attempted repairs and have caused more damage in doing so.

If your boiler is not under warranty, call a plumber from G&K Heating!

Leaks

leak through ceiling

Leaks are commonly caused through accidental damage or poor maintenance. A common symptom of this is an increase in your water bill or a change in the water flow or obvious water damage on your walls, ceilings and floors.

What to do:

· As soon as you become aware of the leak, if possible put a container such as a bucket underneath it.

· Contact G&K straight away as the leak can potentially cause damage to your property.

G&K Heating is excellent at getting out to an emergency quickly to ensure your issue doesn’t turn into a huge problem! Get in touch, even if you think it’s not a big deal.

Whether it’s a boiler repair or ongoing issues with your plumbing or water supply, we are happy to help!

At the end of the day, it’s better to be safe than sorry!

Call us today on

01273 45 7742