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When Should You Call An Emergency Plumber?
25 May

When Should You Call An Emergency Plumber?

If you’re a homeowner and you’re having issues with your plumbing, you may not be sure what issues demand immediate attention from an emergency plumber – and which ones are not as serious. In this article, we’ll discuss a few of the basics you need to know about emergency plumbing, which issues demand immediate attention, and much more. Read on, and learn everything that you need to know.

What Issues Demand Immediate Help From An Emergency Plumber?

First, let’s discuss a few of the top issues that you should have an emergency plumber deal with immediately – to protect your home, your property, and your family. These problems are extremely urgent, and you should contact a plumber right away if any of them are affecting your home.

  • Major water leaks – If you notice signs of major water leaks, such as damage or staining to a wall, mold growth, or other telltale signs that water is leaking into your home from a pipe, you should contact an emergency plumber right away to get to the root of the issue. Plumbing leaks are time-sensitive – the longer you wait, the more likely it is that the leak will get worse, and continue to cause water damage to your property.
  • Frozen pipes – Frozen pipes are usually avoidable, but if you notice that a pipe has frozen solid, you should get help from a professional plumber right away, even if the pipe has not yet burst. A plumber can help you thaw the pipe gently to eliminate the blockage, and keep your pipe intact. Your plumber can also apply insulation directly to the pipe and provide you with tips to prevent future freezing and blockages.
  • Burst pipes – A burst pipe is the most serious of all plumbing emergencies. Make sure you turn off your main water valve immediately if one of your pipes bursts, and call a plumber immediately to have it fixed. The more quickly you act, the lower the risk is that water damage will affect your home.
  • Overflowing toilets – A toilet that’s overflowing and won’t stop running is a serious emergency, because the human waste that could come out of the toilet poses a health risk to you and your family. Before you call a plumber, turn off the water valve to the toilet, which is usually located on a stainless steel plumbing line that leads into the wall. This will halt the flow of new water into the toilet, which may help stop the toilet from overflowing.
  • Sewer backup – Sewer backups can be caused by flooding, but can also be caused by the buildup of grease and other debris in your sewer outflow line, tree roots that block or damage your sewer line, and other such problems. This is one of the most serious plumbing emergencies, as waste and sewer outflow could pump up through your toilets, sinks, showers, and other plumbing fixtures and contaminate your home. Call a plumber immediately if your sewer is backed up.
  • Failed sump pump – If you have a sump pump that fails and your basement floods during rain, this is a serious problem, particularly if you do not have a drain in your basement. You need to contact an emergency plumber to repair or replace your sump pump right away – especially if more heavy rainfall is expected in the near future.

All of these plumbing issues are very serious, and demand immediate attention from a 24-hour emergency plumber. You should call professionals like Anytime Plumbing to get help with your issue right away.

What Plumbing Problems Don’t Demand Immediate Repairs?

There are a few plumbing problems that are inconvenient and should be fixed quickly – but don’t necessarily require you to call a 24-hour emergency plumber. They include:

  • Clogged drains and toilets – If your drain or toilet is clogged, this can be a big inconvenience – but unless the water is backing up and flooding into your kitchen or bathroom, this is not typically a problem that demands emergency plumbing services. You can try to break the clog using a plunger, drain snake, and chemical drain cleaner. If you can’t do it on your own, we recommend contacting a plumber to schedule an appointment.
  • Dripping or leaky plumbing fixtures – Minor drips and leaks, such as a toilet that keeps running or a tap that won’t turn all the way off, are not usually emergencies. As long as they’re not causing water damage to your home, you can wait a day or two to get a standard plumbing appointment instead of calling an emergency plumber.
  • Issues with hot water – A broken hot water heater and other issues related to a lack of hot water can be inconvenient, but do not typically demand immediate attention, since they don’t pose a serious hazard to your health or your property.

In these situations, you can usually save money by waiting a day or two to get a standard plumbing appointment, because you won’t have to pay any flat-rate emergency fees or after-hours rates.

Of course, if you don’t want to wait, you can always contact an emergency plumber, and they’ll be happy to help you out right away. It’s up to you, and your own preferences.

Does It Cost More To Hire An Emergency Plumber?

In most cases, it will cost more to hire a plumber for an emergency visit than it would cost to hire them for a standard visit to your home. Many plumbers charge a flat rate for emergency service, and then adjust their charges based on the work required to repair your plumbing issue.

Additionally, you can expect to pay more if you hire an emergency plumber for an appointment that’s after working hours, on the weekend, or falls on a major holiday.

You may also have to pay a bit more depending on your location within their service area – if your home or property is farther away from their typical service area, you may pay additional fees.

However, it’s always worth it to hire an emergency plumber to take care of major plumbing emergencies right away. If you wait to get help, you risk permanent water damage to your home, and other complications that may cost you even more time and money to resolve.

Keep Your Property And Family Safe – Know When To Call An Emergency Plumber

As a rule, any plumbing issue that you think may cause serious water damage and could endanger your property or the health of your family is an emergency – and demands immediate attention. The sooner you get help, the better the outcome of your situation will be.

So don’t wait. If you think that you have a plumbing problem that meets these criteria, you should contact an experienced team of plumbing professionals like Anytime Plumbing right away to get the help you need.

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Amer Zaghlouleh is the owner of Anytime Plumbing Inc., a trusted plumbing company serving Santa Cruz County. With a focus on delivering quality work and reliable service, Amer has established himself as a respected professional in the industry. He believes in providing honest and trustworthy plumbing solutions to every customer, ensuring their satisfaction and peace of mind. With years of experience and a commitment to staying updated with the latest technical advances, Amer and his team at Anytime Plumbing Inc. are fully equipped to handle any plumbing job with precision and efficiency. Trust in Amer's expertise and dedication for all your plumbing needs.

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