Without any forewarning, plumbing emergencies can suddenly strike and put your home in potential danger. Burst pipes are the most serious plumbing issue and, of course, lead to the most extensive water damage if not addressed immediately. Pipe joints can come apart with little notice, causing a big problem in just a short amount of time. Then there’s the issue of your average leaky faucet or running toilet. Those seemingly inadequate nuisances can add up to considerable amounts of water and unexpected damage to your plumbing system that can show up in a surprise company coming to your doorstep with an unexpected bill.
Then there are the clogged drains. A complicated plumbing system is a somewhat unavoidable part of any house, and the number of potential places for backup to occur is considerable. Yet leakage, backflow, and other drainage issues are sometimes unavoidable, and prompt attention to those symptoms is vital to maintaining your plumbing system and avoiding large-scale repairs.
Addressing plumbing emergencies swiftly and effectively requires knowing the most basic of basics—what's broken and how to fix it fast. That starts with understanding the plumbing system, from the main water supply to the individual fixtures. Most folks can turn off the incoming water to a specific fixture, but not everyone knows how to kill the water supply to the entire house or how to re-engage the system after the fix is made. Most plumbing parts are a mystery to the average homeowner, and even the parts that are known are often ill-understood. Closer inspection can help with this. It may also help to be loaded with a ninja's knowledge of "when to call in the pros" and "what not to do during a fix, lest the system suffer further damage."
Besides taking preventive measures, it is vital to have the right tools and professional services at hand to make plumbing emergencies more manageable. A basic plumbing toolkit should contain a plunger, pipe tape, and an adjustable wrench, among other items, to tackle problems that the average individual can fix. Beyond that, a resolute plumbing service is a must to call upon for anything that requires nimble, pro-level fingers, with a schedule of their own, to put things back in order. No one needs the costly and time-consuming inconvenience of a plumbing emergency, and better to skirt the potential for one with some prep work and know-how.