Dealing with Common Emergency Plumbing Issues

When you experience a plumbing emergency in your home or business, you need the peace of mind that comes from having the contact information of Fort Worth plumbers you know you can trust. Word of mouth recommendations are hard to beat when it comes to choosing Fort Worth plumbing services. Check to ensure that the plumbing professionals you hire are insured and have the relevant experience necessary to take care of the job. Look for plumbing services that are accredited by the Better Business Bureau and other professional organizations. Plumbing emergencies are too important to risk a poor repair job. Some of the most common plumbing emergencies are leaky fixtures, blockages, burst pipes, and frozen pipes.

Leaky Plumbing Fixtures

Fort Worth plumbers are used to dealing with plumbing fixtures that leak. When you discover a leak, shut the valve that controls water to the leaky fixture. Sometimes plumbing fixture traps accumulate debris, soap scum, hair, or food, causing the opening to obstruct and leading to an overflow and leakage situation. If you can't find and clear a trap that's causing the leak, call a plumbing professional to diagnose and fix the problem.

Drain and Toilet Blockages

Sooner or later everyone deals with a blockage in a drain or a toilet. The occasional clog can often be fixed with a plunger or with a chemical drain cleaner. Always follow drain cleaner instructions to the letter and keep the products well out of the reach of children. If a plunger or chemical drain cleaner doesn't do the job, or if you experience blockages on a regular basis, you need to call in a plumbing professional to diagnose and fix the problem once and for all.

Burst Pipes

If you've ever awakened in the middle of the night to the tell-tale hissing sound from a burst pipe, you know what an emergency this situation is. You need to call your plumbing service immediately and do what you can to stop water flow. The best way to do this is to find the main shut-off valve for the house and close it. Doing so will stop water supply to fixtures and stop water from flowing from the burst pipe. You should then turn on your cold water taps to drain your pipes of trapped water. Your plumber will need to repair or replace the section of pipe that has ruptured.

Frozen Pipes

Fortunately, frozen pipes aren't that common in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, but they can happen. What happens is, water in your pipes freezes, and as you know, water expands when it freezes. This can create enough pressure to burst the pipe. If you discover frozen pipes, close the main shutoff valve to your house and check for pipe ruptures. Pipes that haven't ruptured can be thawed using a hot water bottle. You don't want to use a flame or other high-heat source, because too-rapid heating can cause thermal water expansion and split the pipe. If a frozen pipe has burst, you'll need to call your plumber right away for a repair. It's a good idea to keep your pipes insulated to help prevent frozen pipes during the winter.