PLUMBING FIRST AID
Tips, Tricks, & Must-Do’s in Property Maintenance
By Truealty Services
Plumbing companies like ours seldom receive a non-emergency call. If you have a stopped-up toilet, broken pipes, no hot water, or an unwanted wading pool in the basement, it’s an EMERGENCY!
That’s why we emphasize speed of service. It’s our goal to get to every customer by the time we received your call. Unfortunately, that’s not always possible. So, like soldiers on a battlefield, you ought to know some elementary first aid to stop the bleeding and stabilize the wounded until more thorough help can arrive. Here are some plumbing first-aid tips:
It’s our goal to get to every customer by the time we received your call. Unfortunately, that’s not always possible.
Frozen pipes
Water pipes can burst from a household accident, long-term corrosion, or most commonly, freezing. A constant stream of cold air through a crawl space or cracks in an exterior wall is all it takes to freeze a pipe.
The first damage control step is to turn off the water shutoff valve leading to that pipeline. If you can’t find the valve, turn off the main water supply valve leading into the house. Usually, this is located near a wall where the municipal water service line enters your house.
Gas leaks
Water leaks are a nuisance. Gas leaks can be deadly. Here is where marked shutoff valves can be critical.
A faint gas odor may indicate nothing more than a burned-out pilot light to an appliance. Check the water heater or other appliances in the vicinity to see if the pilot is out (an absence of hot water is another big hint.)
A more powerful odor spells big danger. Turn off the shutoff valve by the gas meter to your house. Turn off all appliances, open windows, and vacate the house before you call for service.
The most common cause of a major gas leak is someone accidentally knocking open a gas valve or damaging the pipe while moving furniture. Be careful.
Overflowing toilet
You probably have a plunger handy to remove any clogs caused by toilet paper or other debris. If you can’t stop the water from flowing, it probably indicates a stuck outlet valve. Lift the lid off the toilet tank and check to see why the tank ball or plug is not covering the round opening at the bottom of the tank. Push the ball or plug it into the opening.
If the plug won’t move, don’t force it. Lifting the float arm will shut off the flow. Stretch a ruler or other long object across the top of the tank and position the float arm across it to keep it up in place, then call the plumber.
If none of this works, turn off the shutoff valve to the toilet. Its handle usually is located either behind the tank or underneath it. Then wait for our technician to provide a long-term solution.
Even after you’ve done these quick fixes, it’s still best to consult with reputable plumbers like Truealty Services, formerly Steinhorst, for professional diagnosis and repair of your property maintenance needs.