When you hear a drip, drip, drip late at night, it’s hard to know if the leak constitutes a plumbing emergency or if the problem can wait until regular business hours. Instinct may have you rushing to Champion Plumbing Cape Coral the phone in a panic instead of calmly assessing the situation. But let’s keep a level head here, shall we? Here are some quick questions to help you process before dialing up an emergency plumber near you, so you can avoid spending more money than needed and get back to bed.
Do You Need to Use The Affected Plumbing Right Away?
A flooding basement obviously warrants an emergency call, but that broken toilet or clogged sink? They could probably wait until morning to schedule a plumbing appointment. In this case, make sure your household knows to avoid using the fixture until further notice (even if it’s a bit inconvenient). Tape a note on the wall or block off the room entirely to avoid late-night forgetfulness.
Can You Turn the Fixture Off?
If you have a minor leak at the sink and can shut off the water to that fixture, then it’s not a plumbing emergency. Look under the sink or behind the toilet for the shut-off valve. You might have to turn off the main water line to the house for bigger issues, though. The main shutoff valve is likely located near the water meter in the lower level of your home on the street side.
If the leak is more like a trickle, you might be able to hold off the leak for a few hours with items like tape, rubber bands, and hardware store solutions.
How’s the Weather?
Oddly enough, the weather will factor into whether you need plumbing services ASAP. If it’s the middle of a hot summer day and you don’t have access to water, that’s a health concern. If the outside temperature is below 32 degrees Fahrenheit and your water heater is struggling to turn on, call in reinforcements.
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