4 Common Emergency Plumbing Issues to Watch Out For

When plumbing works, it’s practically invisible, and very few people actually stop to think about what they’re doing. Just turn a tap, water comes out. Flush a toilet, away it goes. Hop in the shower, warm water cleans you up.

But when these things stop working the way they’re supposed to, people quickly begin to realize just how much modern 21st-century life relies on getting clean, safe, warm, potable water in your own home whenever you need it. Sometimes things do go wrong, and here are the most common issues that may happen to the plumbing in your home.

Fixtures Start Leaking

Even if you’ve never had this in your own home, you’ve probably experienced it growing up, or seen it in some other venue, such as a hotel.

A leaky faucet or showerhead is not the kind of emergency that’s going to end up threatening your home, but it can cost you money if you continue to ignore it. That dripping water is still water you pay for in your water bill every month.

Fortunately, the majority of these cases can be taken care of with a wrench, and a small, easily replaceable part, such as a washer or O-ring. Just swap the part out and you’re done, unless it’s a major issue with the faucet itself.

Drains Become Blocked

This can happen anywhere along the line of your drain, which in turn affects the severity. A blocked drain just means that a build-up has occurred.

It usually first manifests as a slow drain, taking much longer for a sink to empty out. Then, if you continue to ignore the problem, or pretend it’s not happening, becomes completely blocked and no longer allows water to drain at all.

In most cases, a mechanical solution like using a plunger or plumber’s snake will resolve the problem. Household drain cleaners might also work, but exercise more care; the corrosives in these products can damage very old pipes, and can even warp or melt new plastic pipes if not used correctly.

Toilet Overflowing

This is a very specific type of blocked drain affecting your toilet. In most cases, this also means that there’s an obstruction.

This will be either a build-up of waste in the drainage pipe, or else an attempt to flush something that should not be flushed, such as a child’s toy, or disposable diapers.

Be very careful with the mess from an overflowing toilet, as human waste can transmit diseases through exposure or contact.

Pipes Have Burst

Depending on the severity and location of the burst, this is about as bad as it can get when it comes to plumbing emergencies. A burst pipe means there’s a break in plumbing that is built to be watertight.

If this occurs in your water pipes, this means you are constantly leaking water somewhere, possibly even damaging walls or ceilings in proximity to the break thanks to water damage.

If it’s the drainage pipe that’s burst, you potentially have raw sewage pouring into your home with every flush of a toilet.

Depending on the type of emergency you have in Sun Prairie, WI, you might be able to tackle the issue with a little bit of elbow grease, such as a slow drain. But for very serious issues, like a burst pipe, always get experienced, qualified professionals to do the job right.