What to Do in a Plumbing Emergency

If you suffer a plumbing emergency in Monterey Park, CA, there are several steps you should take. One of these should be to contact Monkey Wrench Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric right away. Our professional and experienced plumbers can take care of all your plumbing needs. Additionally, you’ll need to shut off your main water supply valve and try to contain the leak.

Am I Dealing With a Plumbing Emergency?

When you have a plumbing issue, it’s necessary to know what actually constitutes an emergency situation. Things that aren’t typically an emergency include dripping faucets or your home’s second toilet not working properly.

So, what is an emergency, then? Sewage leaks, flooding, a dangerous gas leak or burst pipes are all good examples. Furthermore, if your home only has one toilet and it’s not working, call our plumbing team right away. A lack of water altogether is also an emergency situation.

If you’ve determined you are indeed dealing with an emergency plumbing problem, utilize the following steps to help protect your home.

Remain Calm

Have you woken up to discover water is all over your floor? Take a deep breath to help calm yourself down. This will make it easier to remember the following steps. Rather than giving in to panic, calmly observe the damage. Working at a calm pace will actually allow you to get your home prepared for an emergency plumber much easier than being nervous or in an agitated state.

Shut Off Your Water Supply

Before you even pick up the phone to call us, your first goal is to shut off your home’s water supply. Find the main valve, and turn it to the off position. This will prevent more water from flooding into your home. Your main valve will most likely be located in one of two places: where your main water line enters your home or near your water meter.

Alternatively, if your plumbing issue is more localized, you could use the specific fixture’s shut-off valve. That way, your toilet or sink won’t leak anymore, but you’ll still have a fresh water supply to your kitchen faucet.

Shut Off Your Hot Water Too

When you’re dealing with a serious plumbing emergency, it’s also wise to turn off your hot water system. Failure to do so could end up causing your water heater to burst or overheat. To avoid having a second water plumbing emergency, be sure to safeguard your home by turning off your main water supply and the hot water.

Try to Contain the Leak

First, it’s vital to ensure that it’s safe to contain the leak. For instance, if the leak happens to be near appliances or electrical outlets, it’s best to steer clear of it altogether. If you’re able to, you should also shut off that part of the house’s electricity. As long as it’s not near an outlet, though, you can use towels, buckets or even a wet/dry vacuum to take care of excess water.

Furthermore, once you’ve contained the leak, you’ll want to protect any valuables in the general area. Move your electronics and furniture, along with anything else you can’t bear to lose. Keep in mind that almost anything can be saved if it’s moved early enough. A prime example is your book collection. Even if the books were in the flood, you can save them by acting quickly, blotting up excess with a paper towel and gently separating their pages for the drying process.

Call Monkey Wrench Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric

Whether you’ve woken up to a plumbing emergency or just got home from vacation to find a burst pipe, your next step should be to call our plumbing experts. While you wait for us to arrive, you can begin documenting the damage for your insurance company. Our plumbing specialist will arrive as quickly as possible. Our knowledge and friendliness should set you more at ease, and we’ll immediately begin working on the problem. It’s our goal to ensure your life returns to normal fast.

Don’t Turn to Harsh Chemicals

If you’ve got a drain that has backed up, it’s smart not to pour harsh chemicals into it. Although it will offer a brief reprieve, it could also damage your pipes. Therefore, your best bet is to wait for our expert team to address your drain issues.

Clear Up the Affected Area

Something else you can do as you wait for our professional plumbers to arrive is clean up the affected area. That way, we’ll be able to access the leak more easily, which means we’ll also be able to repair your plumbing more quickly. Furthermore, if you don’t take the time to clean up damage to your walls, furniture, flooring, etc., you’ll regret it later on. The longer the water remains, the more expensive repairs could become.

Also, if you have any pets, this would be a good time to secure them in another room. After all, the last thing you’ll want to deal with is a hyper dog trying to jump on one of our plumbers.

Don’t Attempt a DIY Solution

There are certain things you can take care of for yourself, including replacing the air filter in your HVAC system. However, plumbing isn’t something to take lightly. Much like electricity, plumbing requires a skilled professional to set things right again. Even if you have some basic plumbing knowledge, the odds are high that you’ll accidentally make things worse.

How to Avoid Future Plumbing Emergencies

The best way to avoid future plumbing emergencies is by taking preventive action. Our team can help make sure your plumbing stays in great shape by doing regular inspections. Plus, you can take several steps as well. For one, any small leaks should be repaired right away, so they don’t have time to become big issues.

Always avoid flushing any biodegradable items down the toilet, including wet wipes. Don’t flush medications, sanitary products, cat litter, deceased pet fish or any hazardous household materials, either.

Other things that will help include insulating your pipes in any unheated areas. Be sure to test your water heater’s pressure relief valve a minimum of twice per year. You can also prevent clogs in your showers and sinks by using a drain screen. Don’t forget to clean drain screens on a regular basis, either.

Top-Notch Plumbing Team in Monterey Park

We provide residential plumbing repairs and installations in Monterey Park and other parts of the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area. Our team has offered an elevated service experience since 1999. Although we always provide professionalism, pride, and a commitment to treating your home like ours, we also have a sense of humor. That’s how we decided on our long-time tagline: Number One in a Number Two Business. Whether you need leak detection, repiping, or a tankless water heater repair, we can help.

Are you currently facing an emergency plumbing situation in Monterey Park? Pick up your phone and call Monkey Wrench Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric for professional help.