When you need a plumber, you usually don’t have time to spare. There are only so many days that you can go without fixing a plumbing problem. There are, however, times when you can afford to wait until a plumber is available during normal business hours and times when you need to step it up and call in a professional immediately, even if it means paying the fees for an emergency call. How do you tell the difference? Ask yourself these questions:
Is there water flow that you can’t stop or standing water caused by a leak?
This is particularly important during the winter months when bursting pipes are causing serious problems. However, any time there is a strong flow of water that you can’t stop, it’s time to call in a professional to take care of your plumbing emergency. Most of the time, you can at least temporarily shut off the flow of water in your house yourself by turning off the water line. While that will leave you without water, it will at least buy some time for a plumber to arrive. On the other hand, if the leak is outside the house you may not have a shutoff option, and that means that you need emergency plumbing assistance as soon as possible.
The same is true if you have standing water caused by a leak for any reason. If you ever discover a large amount of water somewhere that a large amount of water should not be, you have a problem. Check for obvious sources of water and see if you can determine the source of the leak. If it’s something you can shut off, do so immediately! Otherwise, it’s time to call in a professional as soon as possible.
Is the problem related to sewage, and is that sewage coming into the house?
If you’re having problems with a sewer line or your septic tank, you don’t have the luxury of waiting around to have it fixed. Problems involving sewage need to be fixed sooner rather than later, especially if the sewage is backing up into your house.
Has an interior wall suddenly become wet?
Interior walls almost never have acceptable reasons for being wet. If you’re noticing peeling paint or a damp feeling wall, there’s a leak somewhere that has already caused some serious damage to the wall in question. Water coming through a wall has to make it through several layers before you’d be able to feel it, so you’re either dealing with a long-term leak or one that is fairly severe.
Conclusion
While not every situation involving plumbing has to be handled immediately, it’s safe to say that if you encounter any of the circumstances described above, you’re dealing with a plumbing emergency that needs to be handled as soon as possible. Call in a plumbing professional who will ensure that your home is taken care of before a leak leads to more than just a plumbing emergency.
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