Imagine getting home to a musty smell from your kitchen after a short vacation. And while trying to comprehend what is happening, you realize your bathroom is flooded.
The first thought in your mind will be that you forgot to close the bathroom tap. On checking, you realize it’s not your taps, but water is dripping from one of the pipes.
Although we often overlook faulty pipes in our homes, they can cause significant damage to our property. The minor issues you overlook in your home’s plumbing system can turn out to be a plumbing emergency.
When Should You Call an Emergency Plumber?
You should call an emergency plumber if:
- The problem is causing more damage
- The problem can lead to the bursting of pipes
- You can not fix the problem temporarily, for instance, having a clogged toilet
If you notice the following plumbing problems, call your plumber immediately because they can cause more damage.
A sump pump protects your basement from water damage. If it develops a mechanical problem, it will fail to remove excess water around your home’s foundation.
The following can make your sump pump faulty.
- Overheating, which affects the motor and surrounding piping
- Clogs, which make the pump’s switches tangle, making it inefficient
- Malfunctioning float switch
- Power hitches
You should call a plumber immediately if you notice a faulty sump pump to prevent water damage on your foundation.
- Damaged Pipes
Pipes are useful in water transmission within your property. They keep your structure’s plumbing, sewage and electric systems functional.
The following signs should alert you of a damaged pipe in your home.
- Unpleasant odour
- Damp spots on your floor, carpet, or walls
- Standing water beneath the sink
- Low water pressure
- High water bills
The above can indicate leaking pipes. You should get a plumber to spot the faulty pipe and fix it before it causes more damage.
Although some pipes are not visible, the damage starts from the area where you see the signs. Remember to seek professional help in locating a faulty pipe to avoid more damage.
- Clogged Toilets, Showers and Tubs
A clogged toilet or flooded washroom can be a nightmare in your home. This problem results from the flushing of materials that can clog your toilet.
Use of non-biodegradable soaps, synthetic hair, toys, oily debris and other forms of dirt can also affect your bathroom drainage. A chemical drain cleaner could help unblock the clogged showers.
However, ensure you engage a professional plumber to fix the problem if it persists.
- Faulty Water Heaters
A faulty water heater should alert you of damage to the heating system. The signs of a faulty water heater include the following.
- Water flowing out in varying temperatures
- Strange sounds from the water heater
- Discoloured water
- High electricity bills
The above can indicate damage to your heater. For example, coloured water from your water heater may result from rust or sediments within the heating system.
High electricity bills, on the other hand, should alert you of malfunctioning within the heating system or sediment buildup. Most sediments come from minerals present in hard water, such as magnesium and calcium.
When they settle at the base of your heater, the minerals interfere with heat transmission, hence causing inefficiency.
Fixing a faulty water heater requires an expert who can detect the exact problem and fix it.
- Slow Drainage
Experiencing slow drainage in your plumbing system may seem less alarming. But you should fix it before it develops into a bigger problem.
The following table shows the causes of slow drainage and how to avoid them.
| Cause | How to Prevent It |
| Foreign objects | Avoid flushing non-biodegradable objects in toilets Dispose of food remains in trash cans before washing utensils in a sink |
| Corrosion on pipes | Minimize the use of substances that accelerate rusting, such as salty water |
| Frozen pipes | Insulate pipes in your property during cold seasons to prevent freezing |
| Mineral coating | Use soft water to prevent depositing of minerals on the inner surface of the pipe |
Get Professional Plumbing Solutions for Your Property
Having a sound plumbing system in your home is crucial. It preserves your home’s structural integrity and also increases its longevity.
At Maple Ridge Plumbing and Gas, we offer residential and commercial plumbing solutions.
We are licensed and insured, and our professional plumbers will help you identify problems in your system and fix them at reasonable rates.
Contact us today and let our experts attend to your plumbing emergencies.
