You can feel quite alone when you have a plumbing emergency. Everyone else’s plumbing is working fine, so why isn’t yours? While it can be frustrating and stressful to have a plumbing issue, you’re certainly not alone. Here are 10 of the most common plumbing emergencies that plumbers encounter daily:
1. Clogged Sinks
You expect water to flow down your sink drain when you’re brushing your teeth or doing the dishes. However, there may come a time when it doesn’t. Instead, water sits stagnant in your sink, almost as if something in the drain is stopping it from flowing away!
A clogged sink drain can be stressful, but it’s a common problem that’s usually easy to remedy. You may have luck clearing the clog by:
- Flushing hot water down the sink
- Inserting a drain snake into the sink
- Pouring baking soda and vinegar down the sink drain
If your sink still won’t drain, it’s time to call the experts for professional clogged drain repair. Plumbers have access to a range of tools and equipment they can use to put your sink back in action!
2. Clogged Toilets
If your toilet isn’t draining after flushing or you hear unusual sounds coming from the toilet or nearby drain, it could be clogged! A clogged toilet is enough to ruin your day, but it’s nothing your local plumber hasn’t seen before. They come prepared with professional tools, like a plumbing snake, to handle even the most stubborn clogs.
If you would prefer to try to take care of your blocked toilet yourself, there are several DIY strategies worth exploring:
- A toilet plunger
- Soap and hot water
- Baking soda and vinegar
Don’t delay taking care of your clogged toilet. Unresolved blockages or related issues could result in leaks that lead to structural damage or even raw sewage backups.
3. Clogged Bathtubs and Shower Drains
We always expect our bathtubs and showers to work as they should, but that doesn’t always happen. You may realize your bathtub or shower drain is clogged when water isn’t draining away, and you hear gurgling sounds coming from the drains.
The good news is that there are multiple ways to fix a clogged shower drain yourself, including:
- Inserting a drain snake into the shower drain
- Flushing hot water down the drain
- Pouring baking soda, followed by vinegar, and water down the drain
If these DIY methods don’t work and you need help unclogging your shower drain, contact a trusted plumber in your area. You can also prevent your shower and bathtub drains from becoming clogged in the first place by flushing your shower drain regularly to clean out the pipes and using a hair catcher to stop hair and other debris from entering the drain.
4. Leaking Faucets and Toilets
Leaking toilets and faucets are more than just annoying; they’re expensive. Depending on where you live in Canada, a small faucet drip could be wasting thousands of litres of water every month and hundreds of dollars every year. Water dripping can also cause rust to form and facilitate mould growth.
To avoid property damage and keep more of your hard-earned money in your back pocket, fix your leaky faucet or toilet without delay.
Follow these steps to fix a leaky or dripping faucet:
- Gather your supplies – screwdrivers, wrench, pliers, penetrating oil, plumber’s grease, faucet replacement parts
- Turn off the water
- Buy the parts or faucet you need
- Locate the leak and replace the faulty component
If your toilet is leaking, how you repair it can depend on where the leak is coming from. Check for leaks by:
- Removing the toilet tank lid
- Checking the water level in the tank
- Placing food colouring in the toilet tank to change the colour of the water
- Checking the water in the bowl to see if it’s coloured – if it is, there’s a leak in the flapper or the overflow tube is cracked
Identified the problem? Here’s how to fix a leaking toilet:
- Check the flapper to make sure it’s creating a proper seal
- If the leak is coming from the base, tighten the tee bolts
- Replace the wax ring
If you’re not confident in repairing your leaking faucet or toilet, contact a trusted plumbing professional near you.
5. Leaking Water Heaters
Most plumbers receive a service call for a leaking water heater at least once a week, if not more frequently! They are certainly among the most common plumbing emergencies.
If your water heater is leaking from the drain valve, replacing the entire water heater tank drain valve can be the most appropriate fix. Your local plumber can help with this task. Traditional and tankless water heaters can also leak due to:
- Poor installation
- Rust and corrosion
- Disconnected pipe joints
- Old age
- High water pressure
- Cracks
- Faulty pressure relief valves
- Broken internal heater components
Dealing with a broken or leaking water heater can be a stressful experience. However, it can often be prevented when you take the following actions:
- Inspect it regularly
- Flush your tank
- Run tests on the thermostat and pressure relief valve
- Conduct regular maintenance
- Consider replacement when it’s old, inefficient, or has been repaired multiple times
Do you have a leaking water heater? Contact an emergency plumber without delay.
6. Clogged Laundry Room Drains
Laundries may be one of the lesser-used rooms in the average home, but it has one crucial fixture we need multiple times a week: the washing machine. Without it, laundry quickly piles up! That’s why a clogged laundry room drain can be a plumbing emergency. The sooner you unclog that drain, the sooner you can use your washing machine!
Try some of the most common clog-clearing methods, such as baking soda and vinegar, a drain snake, and hot water. If the clog persists, contact your local trusted plumber.
7. Broken Water Lines
Have you noticed soggy areas in your yard and low or no water pressure? There’s a chance you have a broken water line on your property. Several factors can be to blame, including a poorly aimed shovel, tree roots, and even earthquakes.
As soon as you think you have an issue with your water line, seek help from a licensed and insured plumbing professional who offers water line repair services. They can use plumbing video cameras to identify the problem before performing non-invasive trenchless plumbing repairs.
8. Burst Pipes
Canada experiences some fairly harsh winters, and it’s not just us who suffer. Our pipes do, too! The freeze-thaw cycle can cause exposed pipes to burst. In many cases, this issue necessitates the replacement of the entire pipe by a professional plumber.
Fortunately, you can reduce the risk of having to contend with burst pipes by taking these actions:
- Draining and turning off water lines and hoses you’re not using in winter
- Insulating outdoor pipes
- Insulating cold parts of your home
- Ensuring your home is at least 13 degrees Celsius or warmer
- Let warm air reach pipes by opening closet and cabinet doors
- Ensure doors and windows are sealed
9. No Hot Water
Oh no! You go to take a shower, only to quickly realize the water is ice cold! There could be any number of causes of no hot water, including:
- A malfunctioning water heater
- A plumbing leak
- An electrical issue
- An issue with your utility company
Contact your local plumber to determine the cause of the problem, so you can enjoy taking nice, hot showers once more.
10. Sewer System Backup
One of the last things you want to be dealing with is a sewer system backup. They can be costly, messy, and inconvenient. If you notice any of these signs below, contact an emergency plumber as soon as possible:
- Drain clogs
- Bad sewage odours from the drains
- Gurgling toilets
- Water around your basement floor
Call Mr. Rooter Plumbing® for Your Plumbing Emergency
You don’t have to deal with a plumbing emergency on your own. Whether you’re having an ice-cold shower due to a failing water heater or your toilet is clogged, Mr. Rooter Plumbing® is here to help. We are proud to be locally owned and operated plumbing professionals with licensing and insurance for peace of mind. Call us for your residential or commercial plumbing emergency today! For non-emergency plumbing services, you can also request an estimate online.
