Expecting a full house around the holidays? All those extra people using your toilets, sinks, drains and hot water — and maybe using them carelessly — can push even a well-maintained plumbing system to its breaking point.
You don’t even want to imagine having to deal with an overflowing toilet, broken garbage disposal or burst water heater in the middle of a gathering, or in the middle of the night when you have guests staying over! What would you do if that happened to you?
First and foremost, you should know that if you live anywhere in Riverside County, CA, and the surrounding region, Guardian Plumbers is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week — even on holidays — to provide emergency plumbing services. Your first step in any kind of plumbing emergency is to call us.
In the meantime, here are a few things you can do to help minimize the mess when your plumbing system goes awry.
- Turn off the water — Depending on the scope of the problem, turning off water could require simply shutting off a faucet or twisting the valve behind your toilet. However, if you’re experiencing a larger flood, find the main shut-off valve controlling the water supply to your home and stop the flow of water before any further damage occurs.
- Turn off the water heater — After you’ve shut off the main water valve, your water heater will continue to produce heat. The more heat builds up inside the unit, the greater the risk of water heater damage, and that includes overheating and bursting.
- Flush the pipes — Get rid of any remaining water in your pipes by turning on spigots and draining hoses outside your home. You can also flush pipes by opening faucets once the main water supply has been shut off.
- Control leaks — If a leak is small enough to stop temporarily with plumbing tape or towels and rags, doing that will help stop further flooding while you wait for the plumber to arrive. If a leak is too big to control, protect your property with buckets or plastic sheeting.
Clean up — Mop up or remove any standing water immediately, particularly if it’s puddling in an out-of-the-way place where mold can grow. The longer water is left to pool, the more it will damage flooring, and, eventually, ceilings and furniture.
We hope you enjoy a calm, joyous, comfortable and fun-filled holiday season, free of any plumbing disasters or other home appliance emergencies. Keep our number handy, just in case, and don’t hesitate to use it anytime. Guardian Plumbers provides reliable, affordable emergency plumbing repair in and around Riverside County, CA, and we’re always here to help in your time of need!
