Emergency Plumbing Services
There are many cases where you may need to schedule an emergency appointment with your plumber, such as overflowing toilets and backed-up sewers. These mishaps need urgent care and cannot be fixed without professional help.
However, if you haven’t done your research, you may not know what qualifies as a plumbing emergency. Plus, it’s hard to know how long to wait before calling your plumber. Keep reading to learn more about emergency plumbing services and when you may need them.
What Qualifies as a Plumbing Emergency?
Any problem with your plumbing system that requires immediate care is considered a plumbing emergency. For example, you may be dealing with overflowing toilets, damaged pipes, gas leaks, etc.
Such emergencies can cause water damage or even compromise your safety. In some cases, an unattended plumbing emergency can raise your utility bills due to water wastage.
Common Plumbing Emergencies
Here are some common plumbing emergencies you may face:
Water Heater Failure
In the winter, not having hot water is technically an emergency. It can be especially hard to deal with if you live with children or senior citizens. If your immersion heater is broken and you have no other way of heating up water, it’s best to call an emergency plumber.
Broken Water Outlet
When a vital water outlet in your home is broken, you may be unable to clean and cook. In some cases, you may be unable to isolate the broken fixture by turning off the valves, requiring you to shut off the main supply.
Of course, this is a non-negotiable plumbing emergency, so you’ll need to call your plumber right away.
Overflowing Toilet
There are various reasons behind an overflowing toilet, such as a severe clog or a broken float mechanism. In the worst-case scenario, these two issues can happen together. You may be able to find the isolation valve to give yourself time before fixing the issue.
However, this can be an emergency if you have only one accessible toilet in the house. Similarly, if you can’t fix a clogged toilet with a drain snake or plunger, it’s a plumbing emergency for those that don’t have an alternate toilet.
Frozen Pipes
You'll need to act fast if you have burst or frozen pipes. The first step is to immediately shut off your home’s stopcock, and you may also be able to isolate the leak. If not, you won’t have running or hot water, leading to a plumbing emergency.
Clogged Sinks
There’s nothing more frustrating than running the faucet and watching the water refuse to drain down the sink. Of course, this happens due to a clogged sink. Minor clogs will only slow down the draining process, but severe clogs can make draining impossible.
This can become a plumbing emergency as it halts your daily activities, including cooking, cleaning, and basic hygiene.
Sweating Walls
In Overland, sweating walls typically occur in hotter seasons, when the pipe may be colder than its surrounding humidity. The summer air is typically hot by itself, while the boiler warms the air in the winter.
In both cases, humidity can create moisture around the pipes. The walls become hotter by absorbing heat from the external temperature. Then, the moisture in the walls liquefies due to the hot air, causing the walls to sweat.
This can lead to mold and musty smells, which is why it’s considered a plumbing emergency.
Leaky Faucets
Leaky faucets aren’t just annoying to listen to all night, but they can also drastically raise your water bills when left unattended. Additionally, they can cause mold and rust in your sinks. This plumbing emergency typically occurs if your fixtures are old and loose.
Backed-Up Sewer
A backed-up sewer is undoubtedly the worst plumbing emergency you can face. This issue can cause raw sewage from sinks, showers, and toilets to re-enter your home through the piping system. Not only is this unsanitary and smelly, but it’s also an extreme health hazard.
A few signs of a backed-up sewer included multiple clogged drains, gurgling toilets, and bad odor from the drains. If you recognize any of these symptoms, it’s best to call your emergency plumbers.
Running Toilet
If you can constantly hear water running through your toilet, you’re dealing with a running toilet. There are no harmful effects of a running toilet, but it can drastically raise your water bills due to water wastage.
In fact, it can even waste over 200 gallons of water everyday, which is why it’s best to deal with this emergency as soon as possible. Running toilets typically occur if the flapper valve is worn out, allowing water to flow from the tank into the toilet without stopping.
It can also happen due to sediment buildup, which is more probably if your area has hard water. Your emergency plumber will analyze the issue and tell you the cause before fixing your running toilet immediately.
Sump Pit Malfunction
The first measure to take after noting a sump pit malfunction is to take the screen out. This can help you confirm whether the waste is blocking the wheel movement. If not, its pump won’t receive enough power and result in a faulty float toggle.
If the sump pump runs any longer, it can face damage due to overcharge. Sump pits ensure that your basement doesn’t flood, which is why its malfunction is considered a plumbing emergency.
HVAC System Failure
Your HVAC system relies on the plumbing system to operate with pipes moving the moisture to outer drains. Plumbing failures can cause issues with the HVAC system and vice versa. As a result, you may face issues with refrigerants and filtration.
This can also create problems with your bills, security, and productivity, so it’s best to deal with this plumbing emergency immediately.
Emergency Plumbing Services in Overland Park
If you’re facing any of these emergency plumbing issues in Overland Park, our team of experts at Plumbing Services Overland Park can provide immediate solutions to get your plumbing system up and running right away.
Our plumbers are licensed, experienced, and background-checked, so you can count on them to get the job done immediately. Contact us today to book your emergency plumbing appointment.