If you come home to a cold shower, pooling water at your feet, or backed-up sewage, how do you know what a plumbing emergency is, and what can wait until morning? After all, even small plumbing issues could be the sign of something urgent that could spiral into a catastrophe.
The team at DNA Plumbing Heating and Air has seen it all, from midnight floods to subtle leaks that turn into big problems by the time the sun comes up. When in doubt, you should always call a professional to talk through the warning signs and find the best option for you. Here’s how to figure out when you need to call an emergency plumber, and what you might be able to wait on.
When It’s More Than an Inconvenience, It’s a Plumbing Risk
Plumbing problems can quickly go beyond messing up your evening routine and threaten your home’s structure, health, or a combination of both. If you’re dealing with any of the following problems, don’t wait to see what happens:
- A burst pipe or active flooding is among the most common pipe breaks.
- A backed-up toilet that’s overflowing is always a health hazard.
- Water heater leaks that are spreading across the floor should be treated with urgency.
- Sewage smells or gurgling drains, especially if more than one drain is affected, need immediate attention.
If you’re dealing with any of these issues, give us a call and we’ll send out an emergency plumber to your door, even if it’s after regular business hours or in the middle of the night. You should never delay seeking help if your home is at risk.
Not Every Plumbing Problem Is a Midnight Emergency
Of course, some problems are simply an annoyance but not an urgent matter. You may have:
- A single clogged sink, especially if it’s not one you have to use overnight
- A running toilet that isn’t backing up or causing major issues
- Low water pressure that hasn’t gotten any worse
- A dripping faucet or a pinhole leak that’s been slow for a few days
If you’re not experiencing active flooding or sewage or seeing visible risk of damage spreading overnight, it might be safe to wait until morning. You should still proceed with caution. Some of these issues could still be a sign that there’s something going on deeper in your pipes or sewer line. Catching the signs as early as possible is always better than scrambling for repairs later.
Our licensed plumbers always offer rapid response times during the day, with same-day service available for most of your plumbing needs.
What Happens If You Wait Too Long to Address Your Plumbing Problems?
Even a small delay can turn minor plumbing repairs into a full-blown disaster. We’ve had customers call us for water heater repair after ignoring strange sounds or rusty water and discover their tank has major issues or has ruptured. Or maybe they put off their drain cleaning only to discover a sewer line blockage when their bathroom flooded.
Waiting too long to schedule your sewer services or leak detection can lead to damage behind your walls, under your floors, and around your foundation. The results? You could end up with serious damage that your homeowner’s insurance may not cover.
What to Do If You Have a Plumbing Problem
If you’re struggling with a plumbing problem and aren’t sure what to do, follow these steps:
- Turn off the water: Shut off the nearest water valve, or use your main water shut-off to prevent further damage.
- Snap a photo or video: Photographing or video helps us diagnose things as fast as possible before you call our plumbing team.
- Give us a call: Get in touch and tell us what’s going on. We’ll let you know if you should wait until morning or if an emergency plumber should head over as soon as possible.
- We’ll talk through the problem: We talk through the symptoms and problem with you and make our best recommendations, including what you should do while you wait for us or until morning. We also won’t pressure you.
Contact DNA Plumbing Heating and Air for all your plumbing needs.
Plumbing emergencies are more than an inconvenience; they’re stressful and dangerous to your home and health and can turn into an expensive headache. Whether your toilet is overflowing, sewage is backing up, or you have a leak turning into a flood, we’re here to help. Call our emergency plumbers right away and we’ll talk through your options to get you the help you need as soon as possible. Our team is here for you 24/7, from repairs to quick fixes and drain cleaning.
