In the first part of this plumbing emergency series, we talked about what to do for bathroom plumbing emergencies. However, there is a lot more that can go wrong in other areas of your home. Take a look at some plumbing emergencies you may find in your kitchen or pipes and how to fix them:
Kitchen Sink Problems
Let’s face it — the area under your sink isn’t really a place you check out that often. But a sink that has leaking pipes can cause serious damage to your pipes, fixtures, flooring and cabinets. If the leak is coming from the faucet, start by shutting off the water supply valve and putting a rag in the drain to prevent the loss of small parts.
If you’re handy, take a look at replacing the valve or gasket that is leaking, with parts typically running under $20-30. If your sink or drain pipes are leaking, you can minimize the damage by shutting off the water and clearing out any excess water. If it’s a slow leak, put a container underneath to catch the water. Unless it’s a simple repair, you may be better off contacting a Pittsburgh plumbing service at this point.
Pipe Problems
This is an area where an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Make sure your pipes are insulated. If you’re caught without any other option, allow your fixtures to drip or run at a small stream when the weather gets below freezing. If you have a pipe freeze, open the valves on fixtures in that area, so the water has someplace to go as it melts and won’t burst the pipe instead. If the pipes have already burst, shut off the water. Clean up any water you can and call a plumber immediately.
We hope this blog series was useful to you regarding what you should do in home plumbing emergencies before a plumber arrives! It is always best to call a professional plumber to make sure the problem is fixed correctly. If your plumbing is acting up, call Stahl Plumbing at (412) 273-1000. We’re here to help!