Plumbing
Plumbing emergency in Kansas City, KS

Being a homeowner comes along with a lot of different responsibilities. When something goes wrong with your home, you can’t simply call your landlord for assistance. Rather, you need to be well-equipped to handle any emergency that may happen.

Dealing With a Water Leak

Most plumbing emergencies involve a water leak somewhere in your home. These are the steps you should immediately take to protect your home.

Shut Off the Water

One of the first things that you want to do to help minimize the damage is to shut off the main water supply valve for your home. It’s important to know where this is located so that you can get to it quickly. When you turn off the main valve, it will stop the water flowing into your home from the city’s water hookup.

If you’re experiencing a minor leak at a sink or a toilet, you can use the local shut-off valve to quickly shut off water to that individual fixture. This can be extremely helpful as it allows you to stop the flow of water to that one fixture so that it’s no longer leaking while still having the convenience of using water throughout all your other fixtures that are working fine.

Identify the Source

Once you shut off the water supply to the location where there is a leak, the next thing you want to do is assess the source of the leak. It’s absolutely imperative to understand whether it’s coming from a clean water source like your sink or water supply line.

If it’s coming from one of your drain or sewer lines, it’s a more urgent issue, as raw sewage can be a big health risk for your family. Do your best to try and contain the water seepage. Use a bucket, towel, or something similar to help hold the water and prevent it from seeping down through your floor and walls.

Turn Off Utilities as Necessary

Once you identify the source of the leak, you want to look around the close vicinity to see if there are any utilities. These are going to be things like light switches, power outlets, and even gas lines.

If the water or sewage is coming into contact with these locations, it’s important to shut off the utility. You can do this by shutting off the electrical circuit breaker for whatever location of your home is experiencing the leak or shutting off the gas valve to a specific appliance or your entire home.

Call Us Promptly

One of the most important things you can do, when you experience a plumbing emergency, is to call us promptly. You never want to put off getting plumbing repairs, as you’ll likely end up with more damage to your home. Water can be extremely damaging causing mold and mildew growth and premature deterioration of your home’s structural components.

Minimize Water Damage

While you’re waiting for our plumber to arrive, it’s the perfect time to try and minimize any water damage that your home experiences. Aim to remove any wet rugs, furniture, or other belongings so that they’re not holding moisture against your floor. Use towels and mops to dry up any excess water on your floors.

Try plugging in a dehumidifier or a fan to help further extract moisture from the location. This will go a long way in helping to prevent mold and mildew growth in your home.

Dealing With a Sewer Clog

Another common plumbing emergency you can experience is a clog in your drain or sewer line. There are many key indicators of a clog, including water that won’t drain, slow-draining water, gurgling noises, and even foul sewage odors. When your sinks will no longer drain, it’s a key indicator that you have a plumbing emergency.

Identify the Clog’s Location

One of the first things that you’ll want to do is check your other fixtures to see if the problem is with one sink or shower or with your entire home. When checking, make sure you’re checking fixtures that are closest to the main sewer line. For example, if you’re experiencing a sink that won’t drain on the first level of your home, you’ll want to check other fixtures on that level.

Don’t check fixtures on the second level, as the fixtures on your first level will overflow due to gravity before you will see the fixtures on the second level backup. If the problem only seems to be at one sink and it’s starting to overflow but all the other fixtures on that same floor level are draining fine, it’s a key indication the clog is likely in the drain line underneath that particular fixture.

If the problem is secluded to one fixture, you can rest assured that you can use your other plumbing fixtures without worrying about them backing up full of water. However, if the problem seems to be at multiple plumbing fixtures, it’s a key indication you have a clog in your main sewer line.

Contact Us for Assistance

Whether the clog is at a particular plumbing fixture or your sewer line, it’s best to call us for a prompt drain cleaning service. If you have a clog in your sewer line, you’ll want to avoid running any of your plumbing fixtures until we’re able to remove it. Continuing to run water down your drain line when there is a clog can cause the sewer line to back up and all your fixtures to end up with wastewater in them.

Preventing Future Plumbing Emergencies

While understanding how to respond quickly to plumbing emergencies is important, knowing how to minimize your risk of experiencing one in the future is key. We highly recommend getting a professional plumbing inspection at least once a year. This is where one of our plumbers will assess all the different components of your system to identify if there are any malfunctions or worn-out components that need replacing in the near future.

This is great for detecting hidden plumbing leaks that would otherwise lead to extensive water damage to your home. Apart from regular inspections, it’s vital to get routine drain cleaning service. This is where we use a hydro jetter to clear out your drain and sewer lines. This machine uses high-pressure water to effectively scour the inside of your piping to remove any debris buildup.

Additionally, you’ll want to be mindful about what you’re putting down your drains. Avoid using flushable wipes or putting feminine hygiene products down the toilet. When it comes to your kitchen sink, avoid draining any grease, fats, or oils. Implementing the use of drain strainers can be a great way to catch larger food particles before they make it down your drain.

Expert Plumbing Repair Service

MVP Air Conditioning, Heating, Plumbing & Electric offers expert plumbing repair services for the Lenexa, KS community. We can also help with all your plumbing installation, replacement, and inspection needs. Just call our office today to get on the schedule.

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