Handling Emergency Plumbing Repairs

The following is a list of some common home plumbing emergencies. Before you ever think about calling an emergency plumbing service, perform the repairs as described below. If the steps provided here don't help in resolving the plumbing issues, or you aren't confident in your abilities to do the repairs, you shouldn't hesitate to contact a professional, such as Act Fast Solutions, to do the necessary repairs.

Leaky Faucets

A leaky kitchen or bathroom faucet is the commonest emergency plumbing repair at home. You should know the specific type of faucet if you want to apply the appropriate repair. A ball or cartridge faucet uses a single lever for both cold and hot water. A compression faucet valve uses 2 levers that rise when turned on. A reversed compression faucet uses handlers that lower once the water is turned on. To repair a leaking ball or cartridge faucet, turn off the water supply and then remove the faucet handle using an Allan wrench.

Blocked Kitchen Drain

Kitchen drains remove dirty water from your dishwasher and kitchen sink as well as churned food scraps from your garbage disposal. Objects bigger than food particles can be too large and clog up your pipes.

To open up clogged drains

Remove the strainer then place a plunger over the opening of the drain. Fill up the sink with water, just sufficient to cover the cup of the plunger. Develop suction in the sink by moving the plunger up and down. Repeat this action until the obstruction has been cleared and water drains quickly from your sink.

Use a plumber's snake if the plunger fails to work

If your sink fails to drain even after using a plumber's snake and plunger, the clog is probably lodged deeper in the drain line. Call the emergency plumber before the sewer starts backing up on the floor of your kitchen.

Clogged Toilet

A clogged toilet requires emergency plumbing repair. You should never try to flush objects not designed for the drain down the toilet. To unclog your toilet:

If the toilet bowl is full, empty half its contents using a handled container. If the toilet bowl is empty, continue adding water until it is half full.

Over the drain, place a toilet plunger and move it up and down until water starts draining out the bowl.

If the plunger is ineffective even after trying repeatedly, use a plumbing auger. Push the auger down the drain until you hit an obstacle then rotate it to break up the blockage.

If you find the auger ineffective, you might be dealing with a deeper clog that requires the services of an emergency plumber.

Tip: If you wish to avoid possible health hazards, use a toilet plunger for your toilet and a kitchen plunger for the kitchen sink. A kitchen plunger resembles a ball cut in half. A toilet plunger resembles a distorted ball with a big hole on its bottom.

No Hot Water

Freshwater from the water supply line flows into a storage tank water heater where it is heated up using electricity or gas. Water in the tank is kept at a set temperature until the hot water tap is turned on. If no hot water is released after you turn on the hot water tap, the issue is most likely with the water heaters. Malfunctioning thermostat and relief valves can allow internal pressure and heat to rise and explode. It is thus important to exercise caution when examining and working with malfunctioning water heaters as depicted here:

Check the rest of the hot water faucets to determine whether the source of the problem is with the water heater or actual faucet. If the faucet is at fault, check whether the pipe is broken.

Touch the water carefully, and if it feels hot the unit is functioning. Check the gas water heater for pilot lights that are lit. Follow the instructions of the manufacturer for lighting back on pilot lights. Check the electrical water heaters for a working fuse or circuit breaker.