If you take good care of your household plumbing system and keep up with regular inspections, you can greatly reduce the chances of a plumbing emergency occurring. However, no matter how proactive you are, you can never completely eliminate the possibility of a problem popping up. As long as you know how to recognize plumbing emergencies and react accordingly, there’s no reason that any unexpected issue needs to turn into a catastrophe.
Here, we’ll take a look at a few of the most common plumbing emergencies you may experience in your household.
- No Hot Water
The Shoreline winters can get quite chilly, and few things are more frustrating than having no hot water when it’s freezing outside. If you make a point to schedule water heater maintenance every year, you can give yourself the best possible odds of avoiding this problem. However, like any other appliance, your water heater may encounter a malfunction seemingly out of nowhere. If you find the need to repair your water heater be sure to consult a local, professional plumber.
- Broken Sump Pump
If your home has a basement or crawl space, then you most likely have a sump pump. When it rains heavily, the sump pump has the crucial job of keeping your basement or crawl space from flooding. Since the Mercer Island area most certainly experiences plenty of rain, having a functioning sump pump is particularly important. Sometimes, this pump will get overworked, become worn out, or malfunction. If that happens during a storm, it can quickly cause your basement or crawl space to flood, which is undoubtedly a plumbing emergency. If you notice flooding in the lower area of your home or have any reason to suspect that your sump pump isn’t working, you should schedule sump pump repair and replacement before the issue gets any worse.
- Broken Water Line
Your home’s main water line is the pipe that delivers water to your plumbing system from your local water source. Without that line, there’d be no way for you and your family to access the running water that you use to bathe, clean, and cook. In some cases, though, the main water line can spring a leak or even break. And when that happens, your household can suddenly experience a significant drop in water pressure or even lose its access to water altogether. The main water line is typically located beneath the front yard, and if it’s broken or leaking, you may notice wet, muddy patches around the lawn. In addition to affecting your running water, a broken water line can also cause your monthly water bills to skyrocket.
- Clogged Toilet
Clogged toilets are one of the most common household plumbing emergencies, but that doesn’t make them any less frustrating. Unless you have quite a few bathrooms in your home, one toilet going out of commission unexpectedly can be a major inconvenience. Plus, in some cases, a clogged toilet may start overflowing, causing your bathroom to flood and opening the door to a variety of other issues. That said, there’s no need to panic if your toilet is clogged. When this plumbing emergency occurs, and a plunger isn’t doing the trick, simply stop using the toilet and give Gene Johnson Heating, Cooling, Plumbing and Electrical a call. We offer top-notch toilet repairs, and our plumbers will have no problem diagnosing and resolving whatever’s causing the clog.
