What to Do During a Plumbing Emergency Before Help Arrives

Got a plumbing emergency on your hands? Call your Morton Grove, IL emergency plumbing service as soon as you can, and here are some reliable, practical steps you can take before your professional arrives. The priority is always safety first and then minimizing water damage.

What to Do During a Plumbing Emergency Before Help Arrives

Assess the Situation Quickly

Identify the source of the leak: Is it a burst pipe, an overflowing fixture, a leaking appliance, or a backup? If there’s any water near electrical outlets, appliances, or gas lines, be very cautious. If the water contacts electricity or you smell gas, evacuate immediately and call emergency services. Do not enter any flooded areas if there’s standing water near any outlets or even if you’re not sure.

Shut Off the Water Supply 

Locate and close your home’s main water shut-off valve, if you can get to it safely. This is usually near the water meter and is often in the basement, crawlspace, garage, or outside near the street: wherever the main line enters the house.

For localized issues like a single sink or toilet, use the individual shut-off valves under the fixture. After shutting off the main supply, open the lowest faucets in the house and any outdoor spigots to drain residual water from the pipes. This relieves the water pressure and keeps the last of the water in the pipes from leaking.

Address Safety Risks

If the water is near any electrical outlets, switches, or appliances, shut off all power to the house at the main circuit breaker panel, unless you know exactly which breaker controls the power in that specific area. If you’re not sure, just shut it all off: always better safe than sorry. Never touch any wet electrical components.

Call Morton Grove, IL Emergency Plumbing Service

With the immediate danger past, call for emergency plumbing services right away. If you called the fire or gas company already, they’ll come, of course, but they can’t help you with the plumbing fixes.

Contain the Water and Protect Your Home

Once you know everything is safe and help is on the way, use buckets, towels, blankets, or a wet/dry shop vacuum to catch dripping water and mop up standing water immediately. Move your rugs, furniture, and valuables out of the affected area if possible.

Document Everything

Take photos or videos of the damage, the source of the problem, and all the affected areas. This will all be very helpful for your insurance claims. Then, clear the area around the problem so the plumber can access it easily.

Tips for Preventing Emergencies

You’ll be able to avoid some emergencies if you regularly inspect your visible pipes and valves for corrosion and have your plumber come by for routine maintenance regularly. Keep an emergency kit with push-to-connect fittings, caps, hose clamps, and towels for common pipe sizes (½-inch and ¾-inch). Test your shut-off valves quarterly, as you don’t want to find out their broken at the moment you most need them!

For any plumbing emergency, contact Bill’s Plumbing and Sewer for help anywhere in Cook County and surrounding areas.

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