WHAT TO DO IF YOU NEED A 24-HOUR PLUMBER

It’s a Saturday night and water is spraying out of the pipes under your sink. You are unsure of what to do besides calling a 24-hour plumber. Here are steps you should take before calling an after-hours plumber for water damage, what the problem could be, and what to do when you call the plumber. 

BEFORE CALLING THE PLUMBER

The first thing you should always do is turn off the water. Shutting off the water will prevent further damage that can happen to your home. You can shut off the water to the specific fixture or the entire house if you don’t know where the leak is coming from. 

Sinks and other plumbing fixtures will usually have a shutoff valve easily accessible, and with luck, turning off these valves may stop the leak at its source. Make sure you are aware of where the shutoff valve to your house is located in case that doesn’t fix the problem.

After shutting off the water, determine the urgency of getting it fixed. For example, a bathroom sink leaking can wait to be fixed if you have another sink to use in the meantime. You can avoid paying more to have after-hours plumbing. 

POSSIBLE PROBLEMS

Many issues can trigger a water leak or a lack of water in your home. It is important to understand what kind of water problem you may have before calling a 24-hour plumber. Here are some common issues that can happen in any home: 

• Sewer line leaks can happen when a sewer line is blocked or broken. There can be a buildup of water or soil outside of your home. Bathtubs may fill with wastewater when a sewer line is broken as well. Your water company may pay for this type of damage depending on the situation. 
• Water supply line leaks cause major water damage to your home. Make sure to quickly turn off the specific water line or the main water valve that shuts off all water in your home. Call a plumber immediately after turning off the water.
• Rapid drainage leaks can be destructive, but luckily, they are usually easy to fix. Replacing the sink’s trap or fixing the garbage disposal will fix this issue. The drainage lines may not be accessible. If it is actively leaking and you can’t reach it, call a plumber immediately. Drainage leaks could cause damage to the walls or floors depending on their location. 
• Water heater leaks: If you still have water, but only cold water, you may have a water heater leak. Call 911 right away if you believe there is a gas leak from your water heater. If there is not a gas leak in your home, call a plumber to fix the issue. This is not an emergency fix and can wait until normal business hours – you just won’t have hot water until it gets fixed. 

CALLING AN AFTER-HOURS PLUMBER

If you have determined that you need a 24-hour plumber, there is a couple of things to remember. Check if it is still actively leaking – if you can’t shut the water off, it will require immediate attention. If you were able to turn the water off, it can probably go a little longer. Tell the plumber as many details as possible while over the phone. Not only will it give them a better understanding of the issue, but they can make a better cost estimate. 

Water damage might be hard to avoid depending on the leak, but Badgerland Restoration can help! Call our 24/7 hour emergency water damage support hotline to help you get started on fixing your home.