Late-Night Plumbing Emergency Fixes
Once the water has been turned off and any moisture has been removed from the area where the leak occurred.
Most homeowners rely on their plumbing and expect it to work consistently. However, plumbing is susceptible to sudden and sometimes catastrophic issues. Worst of all, these issues sometimes arise at night when everyone is tired and professional availability is limited. Homeowners should be aware of some late-night plumbing emergency fixes to quickly resolve these issues until they can call for professional help in the morning.
Find the water shut-off valve and close it
Leaks can quickly cause severe damage to a home, including deterioration of building materials and the potential for harmful mold and mildew growth. To avoid these potentially expensive problems, homeowners must stop the water flow in the leaky pipe as quickly as possible by finding the shut-off valve and closing it. Most modern home plumbing systems now include a shut-off valve on the water supply line at each point of use. Sinks and toilets are usually in an easy-to-find location under the sink or behind the toilet's base. However, some other locations should be checked.
On the shower, look for an access door or panel on the wall behind the shower. For the washing machine, check behind the appliance. For a built-in dishwasher, check under the sink and look for the water supply line that goes to the back of the dishwasher. Refrigerators may have a shut-off valve behind the appliances, usually near the floor.
If no shut-off valve can be found for the point of use nearest where the leak is located or the leak cannot be easily located, homeowners can temporarily shut off the water supply to the entire home by using the main shut-off valve located where the water service enters the home, often in the basement of the home.
Apply a temporary patch
Once the water has been turned off and any moisture has been removed from the area where the leak occurred, homeowners may be able to apply a simple patch to the plumbing pipe as a temporary measure until a permanent fix can be made. To do this, use a commercially available pipe leak repair kit or a square of material from an old bike inner tube and two adjustable hose clamps. Wrap the inner tube material tightly around the pipe and use the clamps to securely hold it. This patch type is best suited for repairing simple pipe splits or small holes until they can be addressed more permanently.
Keep the phone number of an emergency plumber on hand
Shutting off the water supply and applying a DIY patch are temporary measures that must be dealt with promptly. Homeowners should always have the contact information of an emergency plumber on hand and call them first thing in the morning. If the issue is left to sit, it may worsen and become more challenging and expensive to resolve.
Evenflow Home Services has earned a strong reputation for providing comprehensive residential and commercial plumbing services. Emergency services available. Call today at (210) 941-3503.
