Most people are pretty clear that a suspected gas leak or water pouring into your home from a burst pipe or uncontrolled leak are occasions when calling out an emergency plumber is vital. But what about smaller leaks? Or inconveniences such as a blocked toilet or failed hot water system? Here we take a look at occasions when you must call out an emergency plumber, as well as occasions when you may need to do so, depending on your individual circumstances.
Emergencies that are immediately dangerous
Gas leaks
It goes without saying that if you smell gas, or hear the sound of escaping gas, you and your family need to exit the property as a matter of urgency. If it’s safe to do so, turn the gas off at the mains, then call an emergency plumber who is also certified to work on gas installations.
Major water leaks
Large-scale roof leaks or backed-up guttering usually require emergency attention. This is because unchannelled water that floods into or onto vulnerable parts of your property can rapidly cause thousands of dollars worth of damage. In addition, water dripping through your electrics or saturating your plaster (potentially causing the ceiling to collapse) are hazards you can well do without.
Burst pipes are an emergency for similar reasons. If you can, switch the water off at the stop tap to stop the flow, then call an emergency plumber. Although deploying the stop tap will stop the flow of water in a burst pipe, you’ll be left with a broken pipe and a property with no running water, which is still an emergency situation.
Potential emergencies that require prompt remediation
A blocked toilet
If you have more than one loo in your home, a blocked toilet may not appear to be an emergency. Unfortunately, in many cases it’s not immediately apparent where the blockage is located – if it’s in the main sewage pipe, it’s only a matter of a couple of flushes and the likelihood is that all the other toilets in the property will also show symptoms of a blockage.
Particularly if you have children, the elderly or other vulnerable occupants living in your home, the raw sewage that can flow back when a toilet becomes blocked is a major health hazard. Don’t delay in calling out a plumber.
Hot water system failure
Whilst most households can manage without hot water for a few hours, it’s clearly not manageable for long. In addition, the failure of the hot water system may be due to a dangerous fault that has tripped the safety mechanism. Unfortunately, the problem is unlikely to resolve itself. Particularly if your household includes vulnerable people, no hot water is usually classed as a plumbing emergency.
A slow leak, depending on location
A plumbing problem such as a tap that leaks a little at the base is probably not going to warrant an emergency response. Where fast action is needed is when the slow leak can’t be caught in a bucket or similar and is likely to result in moisture soaking into plaster, timber or your wiring. It’s horrifying how much damage a small amount of water can do to your home in a short period of time if it’s allowed to.
If you notice water where there shouldn’t be any or signs that you’re suffering from a leak somewhere but don’t know where it’s coming from, an emergency plumber is essential. Look out for bulging, cracks, patches of mould or discolouration on walls or ceilings – these are all possible symptoms of a leak.
If in doubt, call us out! The team at EPSSB is here to help with all your plumbing and gas fitting emergencies, 24/7/365.
