Resolving a plumbing emergency by yourself is not something you would want to do. It can be tricky as you may end up damaging the plumbing by forceful actions or doing something incorrectly. However, you also do not want to be stranded at home in a snowstorm with no equipment nor tools to provide a temporary solution for your home’s plumbing emergencies.

 

Plumbing is an essential part of a household. Every house has a plumbing system even though the pipes are often not seen unless looking at them. Everyone should know how a plumbing system works at the very least in case they need to fix something like clogged toilet in case of a plumbing emergency.

What are the most common plumbing emergencies could happen at home?

Burst pipes or leaks: This can happen due to freezing temperatures or wear and tear on pipes. some other reasons could be pipe’s age, clogs inside the pipe, mineral build ups inside the pipe (also called as Hard Water), accidental damage, poor installation, etc.

Clogged drains: A clogged drain can cause water to back up and overflow, posing a risk of water damage and health risks.

Broken water heater: A malfunctioning water heater can lead to a lack of hot water, which can be annoying and uncomfortable if a water heater isn’t working properly.

Sewage backup: A sewer backup can seriously harm your house and endanger your health because of the bacteria and viruses in sewage.

Gas leaks: If you suspect a gas leak, it’s crucial to call a professional right away because gas leaks can be hazardous and even fatal.

Toilet overflow: If a toilet overflow is not swiftly resolved, it may result in water damage and hygienic problems.

Faucet leaks: Your water bill can go up and a lot of water can be wasted by dripping faucets.

Low water pressure: It might be challenging to carry out simple duties like taking a shower and cleaning dishes when there is low water pressure.

What Are the Plumbing Emergency Tools Every Homeowner Should Have on Hand?

 

As you can tell, there are a lot of unexpected and even random accidents and situations that may arise that it would be in your favour as a homeowner to have a few tools on hand. Whether you are a large house owner, or the owner of a cozy apartment in the downtown area, here’s a list of tools that you should have on hand. This list can help you be able to troubleshoot small issues on your own in case of having been snowed in during the colder and icy months ahead, or in case of a plumbing emergency when you are self-isolating and cannot have contact with others.

 

These tools can be helpful in case of all sorts of matters around the house. For your toilets, it is best to have a flange plunger at home, hidden and tucked away, as a plunger is always the first step in approaching a clogged toilet, which is one of the most common bathroom plumbing emergency situations. It’s also a necessity to have a cup plunger for your sinks and bathtubs. The different shape helps with unclogging sinks and bathtub drains, in addition being more hygienic than using a toilet plunger in the sink.

 

 

Some of the other necessary equipment and tools include but are not limited to rubber gloves, as fixing a plumbing emergency can be a very messy ordeal. Other tools that would be handy to have on hand are a variety of wrenches for tightening and loosening any pipes and fixtures. Plumber’s putty is also a useful to have on hand to apply to low-pressure leaking situations as a temporary fix, and the same is recommended for caulk and caulk gun. Tongue-and-Groove pliers, and plumber’s tape or Teflon tape are also two basic but necessary and useful tools and materials to have in the house just in case.

 

The Teflon tape can be a very good temporary solution to create a tight seal and mold to the pipes and fixtures where it is attached. However, despite all these tools, equipment, and materials, it is always best to call a professional for any of your plumbing emergencies. The emergency may seem resolvable with a simple fix, but there may be underlying issues that could create the situation into a major larger damage if it goes unnoticed.

 

Furthermore, it is of utmost importance to have an emergency stash of toilet paper to make sure it does not run out in an emergency. At the end of the day, toilet paper is one of the most often used “plumbing tools”.

 

How to Patch a Leaky Pipe Plumbing Emergency While You Wait for the Plumber?

 

A “pipe bandage” is often used for temporary solution before an emergency plumber can get to your place to fix the leaky pipe.  It is an equivalent of a pipe tape that is used to cover small leaks in the pipes until your plumber arrives.

 

Either before, or after you set up the pipe bandage, call Mr. Swirl’s 24 hour emergency plumbing services at 604.435.4664 to get one of our friendly Mr. Swirl plumbers out to you immediately to solve your plumbing leak.

 

Overall

 

Knowledge is power, and it is the key to dealing with your plumbing emergencies. If you have some basic knowledge on how to deal with plumbing problems, you will save yourself from plenty damages and frustration. With plumbing guide in hand, you will be able to tackle minor plumbing issues. However, you just also remember to prevent disasters by maintenance and repairs on time.