Here at Stine-Nichols Plumbing, we have seen our fair share of plumbing emergencies over the years, with some being worse than others. While it’s impossible to predict when and where a plumbing emergency may occur, as a homeowner or facility manager, you can have a plan in-place so you know how to react if a plumbing emergency arises. Given that immediate action is extremely important with emergency situations, we’re going to be discussing this topic in more detail throughout this week’s blog post. We’ll help you create an action plan and even provide you with some pieces of advice to limit your chances of being faced with a plumbing emergency!
Before we get into that though, we would like to say hello to any first-time website visitors. Welcome to Stine-Nichols Plumbing! As a business that offers residential, commercial and new construction plumbing services, we completely understand how important timely response times are, especially when faced with a plumbing emergency. Over the years, our team has had the opportunity to tackle countless emergency situations. We feel confident in our ability to not only get on-site in a hurry, but also effectively and efficiently resolve the issue you’re facing. To learn more about our emergency services and other plumbing-related services we offer, you’re welcome to fill out the form HERE or give us a call at (816) 348-3481.
Now…let’s discuss plumbing emergencies and how you can handle them like a pro!
Plumbing Emergency Step #1: Where is the problem?
Unsurprisingly, plumbing emergencies come in all shapes and sizes. At the same time, there are certain plumbing issues that some homeowners may consider emergencies, while others may feel they don’t require an urgent response. In any case, our first step in addressing a plumbing emergency is to determine where the problem resides. For instance, is it the water heater? For some, a water heater needing to be replaced would be considered an emergency. After all, it would be a real inconvenience to go very long without hot water, right? What if there is a leak by the water heater though? Any leaks are typically considered an emergency, especially the more severe ones. With a water heater, this leak could be coming from the piping above, the expansion tank and even the water heater itself.
The water heater is just one of many problem areas for a plumbing emergency. Issues with the sewer line, sump pump, gas lines, water lines and drain lines are also potential problem areas.
Plumbing Emergency Step #2: Is it a serious water line leak?
Now that you know where the issue resides, it’s time to determine what exactly you’re dealing with. And if it happens to be a water line leak, you aren’t going to want to waste any time. Water damage can add up in a hurry and cause some real troubles. First things first, you’re going to want to turn the water off to the entire house. This will help limit the damage and shows just why it is so important to know where your water main shut-off valve is. The next step will be to get your local plumbing professional out to investigate and make the necessary repairs.
Pro tip: Have you heard of smart water monitors and shut-offs? These devices can detect when a leak occurs and automatically shut your water off. This can be extremely beneficial in the event that the leak starts when you’re not home! HERE is a link to Moen’s Flo Smart Water Monitor & Shutoff in case you would like to take a look.
Plumbing Emergency Step #3: Is it a gas line leak?
While there’s no denying that water line leaks can cause quite the expense, our next item on the list is here largely because of the health and safety risks it poses. And while with a water line leak, we recommend getting your trusted plumber out there as soon as possible, a gas line leak should prompt you to call the gas company and 911 immediately. You’ll want to leave the building first though! Why are we including a gas line leak on a blog post about plumbing emergencies? Well…for one, it’s definitely an emergency and secondly, you’ll notice that many plumbers provide services related to gas lines. Whether that be for a water heater, oven, firepit or anything else, many plumbers are experienced with gas line work!
Plumbing Emergency Step #4: Is it tied to the sewer line?
Thus far in this blog post, we’ve talked about water line leaks and gas line leaks. Each pose their own issues and aren’t items you want to procrastinate getting fixed either! Next on our list is the sewer line, which undoubtedly serves an important role in the day-to-day operations of one’s plumbing system. Given that sewer lines are a few feet underground, it’s not always easy to detect when there’s an issue. After all, you aren’t able to readily see it! Nonetheless, there are warning signs that may present themselves when there is a sewer line issue. Think of things like multiple drains being backed up inside the house, funky smells, unusually soggy spots in the yard, the list goes on. When you notice some of these warning signs, it’s critical to get a plumber out there as soon as possible. They’ll be able to run a sewer inspection camera through the line to see what you’re dealing with, as well as locate where the issue resides. This can be incredibly helpful in determining whether you need a repair/replacement or if some drain cleaning will get the job done.
Plumbing Emergency Step #5: Make sure to have a go-to plumber in your area!
Having a local plumbing professional that you can count on for both the routine repairs and emergency situations can make your life a whole lot easier! As seen above, there are more than a few potential plumbing emergencies and when you’re faced with one, you don’t want to have to reach out to multiple companies and try to find someone you feel confident with. After all, in an emergency situation, you probably don’t have the time to research local companies and evaluate their credibility. If you haven’t needed a plumber before, it wouldn’t hurt to ask friends and family in the area to see who they’ve previously used!
Have a Plumbing Emergency in Kansas City? Call Stine-Nichols Plumbing!
Have you ever experienced a plumbing emergency? Whether it be a serious water line leak, flooded basement or anything else, you know it’s important to have a plan in-place to limit the overall damage. After all, it won’t take long for this emergency situation to require some costly repairs. Here at Stine-Nichols Plumbing, we know that when you’re faced with a plumbing emergency, you don’t have a lot of time to waste. Our team takes pride in providing timely responses, day and night, to get your plumbing emergency taken care of as soon as possible. We hope you learned a thing or two throughout this week’s blog post on how to handle a plumbing emergency.
As always, if you live in or near the Kansas City area, and need a go-to plumber to handle both emergencies and regular repairs, we have you covered. Give us a call at (816) 348-3481 to speak with a member of our team.