No one likes to think of having to deal with a plumbing emergency. The last thing any homeowner wants to deal with is an issue in the middle of the night or over the weekend when other tasks have your attention. But plumber issues can’t always wait, and unfortunately they don’t always choose normal business hours to take place. An emergency plumbing call may be a question of “when” rather than “if” for most homeowners in the area.
The good news is that we offer emergency plumbing services throughout the area, and we move quickly to solve any problems that require immediate attention. But when do you need emergency plumbing services, and when can the issue wait until normal business hours? That’s a question only the homeowner can answer, though there are a few factors that can help you make up your mind.
Can You Shut off the Water?
The first step in determining whether emergency plumbing is necessary is whether or not you can shut off the flow of water to a leaking pipe or not. Frozen pipes and burst pipes are common issues during the winter, and similar leaks can wreak havoc if they go unaddressed. Every home has a main water valve that shuts off the water supply to the entire plumbing system. Every family member should know where it is and how to use it.
In addition, many fixtures such as sinks have local shut-off valves, allowing you to shut off the flow of water to them while retaining the water flow elsewhere in the home. If you can’t stem the flow of water for whatever reason, you need to call in an emergency plumbing service.
How Long Can You Do without The Affected Fixture?
Once the damage is no longer spreading, you need to ask yourself how (or whether) your household can function without the affected fixture. In some cases, it might not be a problem: a sink in an unused guest bathroom probably doesn’t need to see any activity until you can schedule a repair session during office hours, for instance. Or if you have a problematic toilet in a multi-toilet household then you might be okay if you waited. But if the problem impacts your life on a more direct level – if, say, it’s the only functioning toilet in the home, or it involves an indispensable fixture like the kitchen sink – you may need to schedule an emergency service.
Pay Close Attention to the Water Heater
We’re in the middle of another freezing cold New England winter, which means that outside temperatures are often well below freezing. How water can be essential in such circumstances, and the possibility of frozen pipes may be enough to prompt an emergency plumbing call in many cases. If the issue in your home involves the hot water heater, it’s usually safer to call for an emergency repair session rather than risk a lack of hot water in your home.
For emergency plumbing services of all varieties in Lexington, MA, call Cooling Unlimited, Inc.
