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Common Plumbing Emergencies And How To Prevent Them

4 May

Plumbing emergencies can potentially cause chaos and anxiety in a household by interfering with important day-to-day activities, bringing your life to a halt.

Common plumbing emergencies, such as clogged drains, overflowing toilets, leaking faucets, sewer flashbacks, etc., are easy to resolve. But they can cost a lot of money down the line if not resolved properly at the time when it malfunctions.

However, you need not wait till your home is flooded with water and human faeces – following some prevention tips will ensure this doesn’t happen. So, let’s take a deeper look at the most common plumbing problems in Gold Coast and how to resolve (and prevent) them.

5 Most Common Plumbing Emergencies And How To Prevent Them

The ‘common’ plumbing problems are subjective, depending on your usage. If your home has a lot of occupants, who regularly use the shower and toilets, you will have more problems with your bathroom plumbing. However, the weather and outside temperature might also affect your plumbing.

1. Burst Pipes

Burst pipes usually occur when excess water pressure loosens the pipe joints, causing them to rupture or burst. But it can also happen if your pipes are old and rusted. Regardless of the reason, burst pipes can be complicated since they lead to severe electrical problems, water damage, and structural issues.

You can prevent such a plumbing issue by regularly inspecting your pipes for underlying foundational issues. Additionally, warning signs of burst pipes, including low water pressure, sagging walls, etc., are easy to detect since they emit significant noise – so keep your ears out for them!

We also recommend increasing the frequency of your pipe inspections during the winter since that’s the season when burst pipes are more common. And if you find yourself dealing with burst pipes already, call professional plumbers as fast as possible.

Leaking Blue Pipe

2. Clogged Drains

Even though clogged drains are lower in intensity than burst pipes, they can be very annoying, especially when they disrupt your regular activities. A clogged drain can happen for several reasons, including hair build-up, foreign objects, shower products, etc.

However, clogged drains can take a while to get noticed – it starts with slight draining issues and then progressively worsens, leading to a fully clogged drain. But various preventative options on the market reduce the chances of hair or foreign objects getting stuck in the drains. These include a drain snake or filter, a plunger, and even a chemical drain cleaner which removes all debris in minutes.

You can also make your own homemade drain cleaner by mixing half cup of vinegar and half a cup of baking soda in warm water and pouring it down the drain. Let it sit for 10 minutes using a blocked drain stopper. Your drains will be clog-free after two rounds of this solution. Another solution you can try is ¼ th cup of salt and borax mixed with ½ a cup of vinegar.

If these tricks don’t work for you and there are persistent emergency plumbing issues, consider calling an emergency plumber to check for underlying problems.

Fats And Oils Clogged In Pipeline

3. Leaking Faucets

The constant drip-drip-drip from a faucet can keep you up at night, thinking about the water getting wasted each minute. But did you know that leaky faucets are easy to fix?

They usually occur due to worn-out gaskets or washers, corroded valve seats, and loose O-rings – and the easiest way to fix them is simply by replacing the faulty parts. You’ll find these components in every local plumbing store, and following a beginner tutorial will do the trick.

However, if the leaky faucet is not functioning optimally even after replacing most of the components, consult a plumber. Remember to address the problem before it permanently damages your faucet.

Leaking Bathroom Silver Tap

4. Running Toilets

The toilet is the most frequently used plumbing fixture in your home, so it’s a given that it’ll face problems regularly. An overflowing or running toilet is one of the nightmares of being a homeowner, but it can be speedily resolved if diagnosed early.

We recommend you DIY the issue using a plunger or drain snake only if you’re sure what’s wrong with the clogged toilet. However, if you’ve already tried fixing it without resolving the root cause, the problem might worsen. In this case, it’s best to call a licensed plumber to fix it.

This will save you a lot of money in reversing wastewater damage and other severe drainage issues.

Cleaning Out Toilet Blockage

5. Sewer Backups

A tell-tale sign of a backed-up sewer is bad odour emanating from your drains or sink. This annoying plumbing problem typically occurs when the wastewater that is supposed to flow away from your home reverses its path and backflows into it. And since various health hazards surround open sewer and wastewater, sewer backups can be dangerous.

So, if you find foul odour from the drains and brown water pooling in your sink and toilet, it’s time to take action and call the plumbers. Don’t try to fix it yourself since it requires specific skills, tools, and procedures compliant with safety protocols.

Digging Up Damaged Pipe

Preventative Plumbing: Tips To Avoid Common Emergencies

Your home is like a sanctuary, and plumbing emergencies can severely affect your peace of mind and lifestyle. But following some precautionary tricks and scheduling regular plumbing inspections can prevent such a massacre.

Trusted by Gold Coast locals, the Gold Coast Plumbing Company offers various emergency plumbing services, including blocked drains and water leak repairs, gas fitting, fixing hot water systems, etc. We conduct a complimentary plumbing inspection with each service to identify the root cause and quickly resolve the issue with a workmanship warranty. If you need any assistance with plumbing issues at your home, please give us a call!

FAQs

1. How can I prevent frozen pipes during the winter months?

The best way to prevent frozen pipes during cold winter months is by letting your cold water faucets drip throughout the day. Even though this may lead to water waste, it significantly relieves pressure in the pipes, preventing burst pipes from frozen water.

You should also inspect the pipes before the onset of winter to ensure all the joints are in proper shape.

2. What should I do if I have a burst pipe?

If you find a burst pipe, contact a local plumber immediately. Based on the severity of the issue, the plumber will recommend replacing the old pipe with a new one. And even though it might be expensive, finishing it on time is imperative.

Thus, scheduling regular pipe inspections can save you a lot of money in pipe replacements.

3. How often should my plumbing system be inspected to prevent emergencies?

As a thumb rule, get your plumbing system inspected before the start of every season, especially before winter. Of course, if you notice early signs of a plumbing emergency, you’ll have to call in a plumber. But otherwise, following this seasonal schedule will work wonders.

4. How can I prevent clogs in my drains and toilet?

Keep small, foreign objects away from toilet and shower drains, and clean them out weekly to remove hair and soap suds. Maintaining a clog-free drain with chemical cleaners and a plunger should prevent this issue.