A blocked toilet in the middle of a flu epidemic? The sewers have backed up so much that your youngest thinks he’s a Ninja Turtle? Hold the fort! This short guide designed for the informed “disaster victim” will help you keep the damage under control until a plumber arrives.
In case of a water leak or flooding
Does one of the pipes in your house think it’s a garden sprinkler? Has your basement turned into a swimming pool? Don’t panic!
- If possible, identify the source of the water damage.
- Turn off the water supply to the faulty pipe, or the main supply to your house (refer to the link at the bottom of this article).
- Go to the electrical panel to turn off the power to the room (or the entire house). Make sure your feet aren’t immersed in water. You don’t want to give yourself a 240-volt big bang perm!
- Get out a bucket, a mop and towels, and sponge up as much water as possible to minimize collateral damage.
- Show off your toned biceps for your family and move or lift any immersed furniture, electrical equipment or devices.
In case of a sewer backup
Say a little prayer, touch wood and say, “It’s all good.” All joking aside, sewer backups are often caused by blocked city pipes or a malfunctioning – or absent – non-return valve outside your home. In short, things that are beyond your control!
Don’t like to sit around twiddling your thumbs? Here are a few things you can do:
- Make sure your floor drain is unobstructed.
- Plug up your toilet and sewer drains, especially if you don’t have a non-return valve.
In case of a water heater issue
Is your electric water heater acting up? Here are some possible solutions depending on the nature of the problem:
- There’s no more hot water, and it’s not because of your teen’s shower habits? The water heater’s thermostat has probably given up the ghost. Your kettle will become your new best friend until the plumber gets there.
- Is your hot water tepid? Hypothesis #1: Check the thermostat on the water heater to make sure it’s set high enough. Hypothesis #2: One of the water heater’s heating elements must be replaced. Be patient and make yourself a nice cup of tea while you wait for the plumber.
Plombier Expert, a plumber just a phone call away at all times
Because emergencies can happen any time of day, call us whenever you need us! A qualified plumber will be happy to assess whether your emergency is a 1 or 911 on the disaster scale. Depending on the situation, they will be on site in under two hours or advise you on how to stabilize the problem until the next day so that you save on the cost of an emergency call!
