Minimizing Damage from a Plumbing Emergency

The best way to avoid damage caused by plumbing emergencies is to make sure they don’t become emergencies in the first place by having regular maintenance performed. That would happen in an ideal world, but we all know that isn’t always possible and sometimes plumbing emergencies happen with no warning. So if there’s a possibility they could happen, what can you do to be prepared? And what can you do to minimize the damage?

Here are 5 things you should keep in mind should you experience a plumbing emergency:

1. Shut off the water. In order to do this you’re going to need to know where the main shut off valve is. If you don’t know this it should be your first step in preparing for potential emergencies. Sometimes you can minimize damage by closing valves at the back of a toilet or under the sink leading to the tap, but should you have a bigger emergency you’ll need to head straight for the main valve. Know where it is now? Great!
2. Keep plumbers tape on hand. If one of your pipes has sprung a small leak you may be able to keep it at bay with plumbers tape, so keep that on hand. This is just a temporary fix, so once you’ve made the patch go and call your plumber right away!
3. If there is a substantial leak try moving anything you can to minimize the damage to furniture and manage the water on the floor as best as you can with towels.
4. If you’ve already shut off the water, turn off your water heater as well in order to avoid damage from overheating.
5. Call a plumber, explain the situation and listen for further instructions to minimize damage until they arrive.

Plumbing emergencies can be pretty scary and cause panic if you’re not sure what to do. That’s why Century Plumbing & Heating is available for emergencies 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in Edmonton, Sherwood Park, and surrounding areas. Call us as soon as you notice the issue and we’ll be on our way!

Contact us today.