A plumbing emergency can happen to anyone, including the most careful homeowners. No matter how well you take care of your plumbing, you might end up with an unexpected problem that puts your home at risk of severe water damage. Being familiar with a few of the most common kinds of plumbing emergencies can help you be prepared to deal with them.

Clogged or Overflowing Toilet

A simple toilet clog might only need a plunger to fix. However, a bad clog or an overflowing toilet are considered emergencies. In some cases, your toilet might have a float mechanism that has stopped working right, which causes water to keep flowing. If you have an overflowing toilet, you should shut off your main water valve before doing anything else. For clogs, use a plunger or a snake to remove debris. Have a professional plumber help you out with severe clogs or broken float mechanisms to get your toilet working right again.

Pipe Leaks

Pipe leaks can quickly cause severe or widespread damage in your home. You can have leaky pipes from clogged water lines, broken water seals, corrosion, broken joints or other causes. After shutting off your main water valve, the way you should handle the leak depends on what’s causing it. For example, you can try tightening a loose joint to stop a leak. Professional plumbers can help you determine why you have a leak and the best way to fix it.

Sewage Backup

Having sewage back up into your home is a plumbing emergency that requires immediate action. Raw sewage can damage your home and put your health at risk. You might have a sewage backup if you smell foul odors, have gurgling toilets or have clogs in several drains. If you see a backup occurring, move items out of harm’s way if possible and have emergency plumbers come to your home right away. Keep in mind that you’ll need to thoroughly clean and disinfect the affected area afterwards to remove germs.

Contact Us for Plumbing Emergencies

When you have a plumbing emergency, you don’t have to worry about trying to fix it on your own. At J.W. Freeman Plumbing, our expert plumbers are here to help. We can make prompt repairs to prevent damage to your home, whether you have a leak, clog or other plumbing problems. Contact us today for plumbing repairs.