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What Is Considered A Plumbing Emergency?

January 13, 2022

When you spot a plumbing issue in your home, it can be either an annoying inconvenience or a serious emergency.

So, what is considered a plumbing emergency and what can you do to mitigate any further damage to your home before your plumber arrives?

Let's take a look.

Burst Water Pipe — Emerald Beach Plumbing Service in Coffs Harbour, NSW

What Is A Plumbing Emergency?

A plumbing emergency is any plumbing issue that is higher risk than normal. Plumbing emergencies can often compromise the safety of the occupants in your home (such as a gas leak) or cause significant water damage.

Some plumbing emergencies may also significantly affect the cost of your utility bills as a result of heavy water loss.

Types Of Plumbing Emergencies

There is a wide variety of plumbing issues that are considered emergencies, including:

Burst Pipes

When too much water pressure builds up close to the weak joint of a pipe, this can cause the pipe to burst and can cause a plumbing fixture, such as a toilet or tap, to fail.

When a pipe bursts, this can create a loud 'popping' sound, which most property owners fail to hear. However, if you hear the popping sound or have noticed any issues with your plumbing system, it's a good idea to call your local plumber straight away.

Burst pipes can cause significant water damage, depending on their location and the severity of the damage to the pipe.

Overflowing Toilets

When a toilet starts to overflow, this can cause some property owners to panic. Clogged toilets are a very common plumbing issue, as toilets are used so often, and it's best to fix them as soon as possible to prevent any damage caused by wastewater.

Using a plunger can be a quick fix for a clogged toilet before it starts to overflow, but this will not fix the underlying issue.

If the toilet starts to overflow after flushing, it is advised for you to avoid using any of the other plumbing systems in your property until a professional plumber can identify the cause of the clogged toilet.

Water Heater Malfunction

If your running water isn't getting hot, is discoloured or is emitting a strange smell, there may be an issue with your water heater.

When your water heater isn't functioning properly, there may be serious leak springs, which can cause all the water to spill out of the water heater tank.

This will get progressively worse until the water heater fails completely, so it's essential to call a plumber straight away if you spot a problem. Getting your water heater checked every year by a professional plumber and making sure it is properly maintained is essential.

Contact Our Experts

If you have spotted a plumbing issue in your home that you think constitutes an emergency, don't hesitate to give our team of experts a call today 02 6650 0544 and we will be happy to assist you.