A burst pipe is gushing water in your basement. None of the drains in your home are working. You see rust in your hot water. Each of these is an example of a plumbing emergency. It's clear that you need to call an emergency plumber, but what else should you do in the meantime?
In this post, we'll go over what counts as a plumbing emergency, 6 steps you should take if you're in one, and answers from a local St. Louis plumber for some common emergency plumbing questions.
Page Key Points
- St. Louis plumbing emergencies can include burst pipes, sewage backups, drain clogs, and other problems with widespread effects.
- If you're in the middle of one, start by turning off your home's water supply.
- Then, disable electricity in the affected areas.
- Remove any valuables that are at risk.
- If this is a water line leak, run your faucets to relieve water pressure.
- Call a plumber to get help repairing the problem.
- Document any damage to help with insurance claims.
Signature Plumbing has been serving the greater St. Louis area since 2011. We offer 24/7 emergency plumbing support and can help you identify and fix the issue fast. Call now to get emergency plumbing service: (636) 742-2533.
What Counts as a Plumbing Emergency in St. Louis?
A plumbing emergency is any plumbing problem that causes large-scale or ongoing damage to your property. Common examples in St. Louis include burst pipes and sewer backups, but there are several other examples:
- Burst Pipes: A burst pipe lets water flow out onto your property, causing damage and inviting mildew growth.
- Sewage Backup: If sewage is coming back up your drains, you could have to deal with contamination.
- Large-Scale Drain Clogs: A single clogged appliance is an inconvenience. Multiple clogged appliances are a sign that something deeper is wrong.
- Failed Sump Pumps: An overflowing sump pump can quickly flood your basement.
- Water Heater Failures: A failed water heater could leak and/or release rust into your water supply.
- Electricity Risks: Any plumbing failure near an electrical outlet is an emergency due to the electrocution risk.
If you're dealing with any of these signs, immediately take the steps below.
Step 1: Shut Off Your Water
The first thing you need to do is stop the water from flowing. This might involve shutting a valve for a specific room or turning off the main water supply for your house. Doing this first limits damage while you perform the next steps.
- Locate your home's water shutoff valve, often outside near the water meter.
- It may also be indoors, often in a basement or crawl space.
- Turn the valve clockwise until it is tight.
- This stops new water from entering your home's plumbing system, hopefully limiting the amount that leaks.
Step 2: Disable Electricity in the Affected Area
Safety should be your top priority. Whether or not you can see water pooling near an electrical outlet, it's probably a good idea to turn off the electricity near the plumbing problem. This can protect you from electrocution, fires, and further property damage.
- Locate your breaker box – this is often in the garage, basement, or a closet.
- If the switches are labelled, switch off any areas that could be compromised by the plumbing issue.
- If the switches are not labelled, turn off the main breaker.
- Continue to avoid any water that is near electrical outlets, just to be safe.
Step 3: Remove Your Valuables
Now that you've stopped the situation from getting worse, you should take some time to preserve your property. Removing any valuables from the flooded area protects them from water damage. Be sure to store them somewhere safe.
- Look for anything that is vulnerable to water damage, especially:
- Electronics
- Wooden furniture
- Carpets
- Metal
- Paper/Books
- When possible, open up flooded areas to allow airflow.
- Store your valuables somewhere safe and away from any flooding.
Step 4: Relieve Water Pressure (Not Applicable for Drain Issues)
For water line leaks, relieving water pressure can limit the extent of the damage. To do this, you need to run water in your home's faucets to clear out the water in your home's plumbing system.
Important note: Don't do this step for drainage problems. Trying to force more water down the drain can cause additional issues, rather than solve them. Only take this step for water line leaks.
- This step must be performed after shutting off the main water valve.
- Turn on your faucets and allow the water to drain.
- With less pressure in the lines, less water will leak out.
Step 5: Call a Plumber
At this point, you've done everything you can practically do on your own. Emergency plumbers who are available 24/7 can provide fast service for your home. Don't wait to call – leaks can get worse by the minute.
- Leak detection services can help find the problem.
- Pipe repair services will stop the leak once it's found.
- Drain cleaning can clear out major blockages.
- Water heater repair/replacement protects your water from aging units.
Step 6: Document the Damage
The damage caused by a plumbing emergency can be expensive. You might need to replace a floor, tear out walls, and buy new furniture. Homeowner's insurance may offer coverage, but you'll need to document the damage before filing a claim.
- Take pictures and videos of the damage if possible.
- Review your insurance policy to ensure that you're properly covered.
- Be very specific when describing the problem, or only refer to it as "water damage."
- Always be honest when working with the insurance company.
St. Louis Emergency Plumbing FAQs:
How fast can an emergency plumber get to my house?
How long it takes an emergency plumber to respond to a call depends on several factors, including the time of day, your home's location, traffic, and if they are already in the middle of a job. In St. Louis, the typical wait can range from 30 minutes to 2 hours.
Are Signature Plumbing's emergency plumbers available 24/7?
Yes – Signature Plumbing provides 24/7 emergency plumbing services. We know that plumbing problems often happen outside of the 9-5, and our plumbing contractors are readily available whenever you need us.
What can I do to prevent plumbing problems?
Regular pipe inspections and drain cleaning can help you spot issues and prevent them from growing out of hand. Drain covers can prevent debris from flowing down the faucet, and installing a sewer cleanout can help a plumber when issues do arise.
What counts as a plumbing emergency?
A plumbing emergency is any plumbing problem that causes extensive damage and/or needs immediate help to stop. Common examples in St. Louis include situations where water is rapidly flowing out of a leak, or when sewage is backing up your drains.
Is a clogged drain an emergency?
A clogged drain can be an emergency, but isn't always. The main distinction is how widespread the problem is: A single clogged drain is probably just an issue with that appliance, and not a widespread problem.
Clogs that affect multiple drains are often an emergency, and frequently require professional help to fix.
In the Middle of a Plumbing Emergency in St. Louis? Call Signature Plumbing ASAP.
Signature Plumbing provides solutions for St. Louis area homes with plumbing problems. When you're experiencing a plumbing emergency, don't hesitate to call us and get help right away. We're available 24/7 and ready for your call.
You can reach us at (636) 742-2533 and/or message us online now.