Plumbing emergencies can happen at any time. Having a few basic tools on hand can help you limit damage while you wait for our professional help. United Plumbing is available for emergency plumbing calls 24/7, but these essential tools can help you hold down the fort until we arrive.
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- An emergency plumbing kit can help you slow leaks, contain water, and stay safer during an emergency plumbing problem.
- Basic items like an adjustable wrench, bucket, flashlight, gloves, goggles, and temporary pipe sealants can be helpful until our plumbers arrive.
- Knowing where your shutoff valves are located can help reduce water damage during a plumbing emergency.
- Call United Plumbing right away for expert plumbers who can quickly diagnose and fix the issue.
Let’s look at each of these main points in more detail.
Use An Emergency Plumbing Kit While You Wait For Our Plumbers
Plumbing emergencies rarely happen at a convenient time. A pipe starts leaking late at night, a drain backs up during a busy morning, or water begins pooling where it definitely should not be.
When something like this happens, once you've stopped the water from flowing, the next important step is to call our expert plumbing team at United Plumbing right away.
United Plumbing offers emergency plumbing services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays.
While you wait for our United Plumbing experts to arrive, having a basic emergency plumbing kit on hand can help you limit damage, stay safer, and keep the situation from getting worse.
Your Emergency Plumbing Kit Is A Temporary Fix
It is important to think of your emergency plumbing kit as a way to hold down the fort until the calvary arrive, not as a long-term repair solution. Plumbing systems can be complicated, and what looks like a simple leak or clog may be connected to a larger issue inside your walls, under your floor, or deeper in your drain line.
Trying to make a plumbing repair without the proper tools and training can sometimes make the situation worse. The best approach is to use your emergency kit to reduce immediate damage while you wait for our licensed plumbers to inspect the problem and make the proper long-term repairs.
Keep An Adjustable Wrench Handy For Loose Connections
An adjustable wrench is one of the most useful tools to keep in your emergency plumbing kit because it can fit a variety of plumbing connections. If water is leaking from a loose fitting under a sink or around a visible pipe connection, an adjustable wrench can help you gently tighten the connection enough to slow the leak.
The key word is gently. Plumbing fittings can be damaged if they are overtightened, especially if they are older or corroded.
Don't force anything or attempt a major repair. The goal is simply to reduce the amount of water escaping until United Plumbing can arrive and determine what caused the leak in the first place.
Use A Bucket To Catch Water And Protect Your Home
A bucket might seem simple, but it can make a big difference during a plumbing emergency. Water from a leaking pipe, dripping ceiling, or backed-up fixture can quickly damage cabinets, flooring, drywall, and personal belongings.
Placing a bucket under the leak can help contain the water and reduce the spread of damage while help is on the way.
Buckets are also useful for carrying supplies, catching water when shutting off a valve, or collecting drips from a temporary pipe leak. If the water appears to be wastewater or sewage, avoid direct contact and keep children and pets away from the area.
You don't want to mess with dirty water, because trying to fix it yourself could lead to health hazards as well as additional plumbing damage.
Have A Flashlight Ready For Hard-To-See Areas
Plumbing problems often happen in places that aren't well lit. Leaks may show up under sinks, behind toilets, in basements, in crawl spaces, near water heaters, or around utility areas.
A strong, dependable flashlight can help you safely see where the water is coming from, locate shutoff valves, and describe the situation more clearly when you call us at United Plumbing.
A flashlight can also help you avoid stepping into standing water, bumping into objects, or reaching into an area you cannot see clearly.
During a stressful plumbing emergency, better visibility helps you stay calm and make safer decisions while you wait for our professional help.
Use Pipe Sealants Only As Temporary Protection
Pipe sealants can sometimes help slow a leak long enough for a plumber to arrive. Plumber’s tape may help around threaded connections, while epoxy putty may temporarily cover a small crack or hole in a pipe.
These products can be useful in certain situations, but should not be treated as permanent repairs. A pipe that is leaking may be damaged, deteriorating, improperly connected, or under pressure.
Even if a temporary seal appears to stop the water, the underlying issue still needs to be inspected. Our expert plumbers at United Plumbing can determine whether the pipe needs to be repaired, replaced, tightened, or addressed as part of a larger plumbing problem.
Protect Yourself With Gloves And Goggles
Plumbing emergencies can create unsafe conditions. Water may be hot, dirty, contaminated, or mixed with cleaning chemicals.
A backed-up drain or toilet can involve bacteria and raw sewage. Even a simple leak can expose sharp edges, rusted metal, or debris under cabinets and around fixtures.
Keeping gloves and safety goggles in your emergency plumbing kit can help protect your hands and eyes while you take steps to contain the problem.
But if you suspect sewage, chemical exposure, electrical hazards, or standing water near outlets or appliances, it is best to avoid the area and wait for a professional.
Your safety matters more than trying to manage the plumbing problem yourself.
Know Where Your Shutoff Valves Are Located
One of the most helpful things a homeowner can do before a plumbing emergency happens is learn where their shutoff valves are located. Many sinks and toilets have individual shutoff valves nearby.
Your home also has a main water shutoff valve that can stop water from flowing into the entire house.
If water is actively leaking and you can safely reach the shutoff valve, turning off the water can help prevent additional damage. If you are not sure where the valve is, or if it is stuck, corroded, or difficult to turn, do not force it.
We can help you locate and inspect shutoff valves while we're there so you are better prepared for any future plumbing emergencies.
Take Photos And Clear The Area If You Can Do It Safely
While you are waiting for an emergency plumber, it may be helpful to take photos of the leak, damaged area, or backed-up fixture. These photos can help you explain what happened and may be useful for insurance purposes if there is water damage.
You can also move rugs, boxes, furniture, or personal items away from the affected area if it is safe to do so. The less water can reach, the better.
But you should avoid entering standing water if there is any chance of electrical danger. You should also avoid handling contaminated water from sewer backups or wastewater problems.
Call United Plumbing Before The Problems Get Worse
Some plumbing problems may start small, but they can become a big headache.
A slow leak can damage cabinets and flooring. A backed-up drain can create odors, sanitation concerns, and recurring messes. A water heater issue can turn into a larger failure. A clogged sewer line can affect multiple fixtures throughout the home.
That's why you should call us as soon as you realize your plumbing problem is more than a minor inconvenience.
United Plumbing’s emergency plumbing services are available 24/7 and there's no extra charge for nights, weekends or holidays.
Whether your plumbing problem happens during the workday, overnight, on a weekend, or on a holiday, having our experienced plumbers involved gives you peace of mind and helps protect your home.
Be Prepared. But Don't Handle A Plumbing Emergency Alone
An emergency plumbing kit is a smart thing to keep in your home. These tools can buy time, but they are not a substitute for a professional repair.
When a plumbing emergency happens, your best plan is to take safe, simple steps to contain the problem and then call United Plumbing.
Our experienced plumbers are available around the clock to help you with urgent plumbing problems and get their homes back to normal.