Have you ever struggled to stop water from a burst pipe or clear a clogged toilet late at night? Plumbing disasters can strike anytime, especially when you least expect them. But wait! With the proper knowledge and presence of mind, you can easily handle these situations before an emergency plumber in London arrives for professional help.
This will help to minimise the damage that can happen if you don’t take prompt action. We know it can be stressful if you haven’t dealt with these situations before. So, to make things easier for you, we are sharing here five must-know tips for handling sudden plumbing disasters in London.
1. Cut Out the Water Supply
Just when the disaster strikes, shut off the water supply quickly by finding the nearest water shut-off valve. For toilets, you can turn off the valve behind or at the base of the commode. For a sink, the valve can be found beneath the drain pipe. Most valves need to be turned clockwise in order to shut off.
For big emergencies, shut off the main water supply. You can find the valve somewhere in the basement, garage or near the water meter. This helps to prevent further flooding and minimise damage up to an extent. Meanwhile, you can call a 24 hour plumber in London to fix the issue properly.
2. Switch Off Hot Water System
It’s better to switch off the water heating system during a plumbing disaster. But make sure to turn it off only after you have shut off the main water supply valve. This is to prevent it from overheating and bursting. If you use a gas water heater, then shut off the gas first.
This is done to cut the supply of hot water throughout the building and ensure the safety of people inside the building. Call a local plumber in London to get professional help. Being local, they can reach your place and fix the issue quickly. Once the main issue is resolved, you can restore the hot water system to normal.
3. Manage Small Leaks
If there’s a small leak, try to stop the water flow as much as you can. You can do this by turning off the water to that particular pipe. You can wrap towels or rags around the pipe since the already present water will drip anyway through the affected area. Also, you can keep a bucket to catch the water drips.
Keeping some plumber’s tape handy for unexpected disasters like this is always a good idea. The tape will temporarily seal the minor leak until an emergency plumber in London arrives to perform a professional repair.
4. Open Outer Spigots and Drains
Open the outer spigots and drains to take the pressure off your plumbing system and get rid of as much water as you can. This is important because even after shutting off the main water valve of the building, there will be some water left in the pipes, which can leak into your place and cause damage.
If you have a garden hose, give it a few good sprays to clear out all the water from it. Call an emergency plumber in London to address the issue promptly. Remember to close the outer spigots and drains once the issue is resolved to prevent water wastage.
5. Avoid Using Chemicals
You may feel tempted to use a bottle of drain cleaning chemicals to clear out a clogged pie. The chemicals can undoubtedly burn out any blockage, but they may do more harm than good, especially if you have a plumbing system that’s old.
The chemicals can wear away the interiors of the older pipes and lead to more severe plumbing disasters in future. So, instead of using any chemical, you can first try out a drain plunger. And if the blockage still doesn’t clear out, then give a call to your emergency plumber in London. That’s because they know better ways to handle such issues.
On a Final Note
Now that you’re aware of these tips, you can easily manage sudden plumbing disasters and safeguard your property from damage. However, these are only temporary fixes. For better solutions, you must call for a 24/7 emergency plumbing service in London. We highly recommend RyGroup as your go-to plumbing expert.
They are a leading company in the UK that provides 24/7 plumbing services. So, you can expect them to help you in times of need. They have been doing this for over ten years and work with professionally trained plumbers who are experts in handling any type of plumbing disaster. Get in touch with them to learn more about their plumbing services.
Also Read: Discover key signs: when London homeowners should call an emergency plumber!
