What to Do in a Plumbing Emergency

by Kevin Smith Author

You’re enjoying your evening when all of a sudden you see water dripping from the ceiling. It’s time to spring to action. You run upstairs and see the kids playing in the bathtub with the water running. But there are no visible signs that anything is wrong. You run back downstairs and sure enough, water is dripping off the ceiling. You’re not sure what to do. You grab your phone and search for 24 seven emergency plumbing in Pittsburgh, PA.

Water Main Shut-Off

Before your house springs a leak, it is a good idea to inform everyone living in the house where the water main shut off is located and how to turn it off. In most houses the water main shut off is in the basement, garage, or utility closet. If there ever is a small leak or a pipe burst, the sooner someone gets to the water main shut-off, the less water damage there will be – and less water to clean up. If your house was built in the last 30 years, your water main shut-off will be a lever. If the lever is in line with the pipe, water is flowing from this point through all pipes running through the house. To turn off the water, move the lever so it is to the right or left of the plumbing line.

This will shut off all water coming into the house. But there will still be water and pressure in the pipes running through the house. If you’re leaking stops, you’re fine. But if the leak continues to open up the faucets and showerheads, and the remaining water and pressure will decrease.

24/7 Emergency Plumbing

A flooded basement, a burst water line in the laundry, or a clog in the kitchen sink are emergencies where you need to move quickly. Get the water shut off as soon as possible. Then call for 24 seven emergency plumbing. The plumber will first find the source of the leak. This may involve cutting into the wall to get to the pipe. But the sheetrock has already been damaged by the water.

If the pipe is white PVC, the plumber will cut out a small section of the damaged pipe. Then with couplings and plumbers glue attach a new piece of pipe. If the water line is copper, the plumber will cut out a small section of the damaged pipe. Then the plumber will solder a new piece in place. If the problem is a faucet that has blown out, a temporary faucet can be installed until you have time to find an acceptable replacement. If the problem is a clogged drain, the plumber will snake down into the drain to push the object of the clog farther down into the plumbing until it is released into the larger main plumbing lines. In either of these scenarios, 24 seven emergency plumbing in Pittsburgh, PA can get the house back to working order.