6 Most Common Plumbing Emergencies

Blocked Kitchen Sink

A Blocked Drain is an irritating issue, with kitchen sinks being the most common type of blockage. The most effective way to remove clogs from the kitchen sink is through pouring corrosive cleaners or using an auger. These tools require not a lot of skill to be effectively utilised and can most of the time clear the pipes. To prevent the chance of the sink becoming blocked, try to avoid having food scraps, oils and greases going down the drain. Another method is to regularly clean the drain to keep it clear, as well as healthy for most of the time. For more information on how to clean a drain, click here for helpful steps and methods.

Leaking Pipes

The location of the pipe will influence how to resolve it, however, leaking taps, sinks and other pipes are never wanted. When the leak happens from the joint, tightening the joint using a wrench can help. Yet, at times other joints may loosen so be ready if this happens. When leaks are from the middle of a pipe a rubber patch of waterproof tape can temporarily resolve the issue.It is important to quickly act on a leaking pipe because if left unattended for too long, serious concerns can happen. Such as a build-up of water, mould forming or even tons of water being wasted, fast action is necessary.  

Burst Pipes

Being the most dangerous issue, a burst pipe can quickly escalate and cause major damage. When large amounts of stress or when pipes are older/ experience corrosion, a burst pipe can occur. If this happens, hundreds of litres of water can quickly burst out of the pipes.To stop the issue from intensifying turning off the main water valve is the first priority. After this, there can be various small steps to do depending on the pipe type and severity of the burst, which can be read here. However, always calling a plumber to quickly arrive at the event is needed to prevent further damage.

Toilet Overflowing

An overflowing toilet can be expensive and negative with all the water wastage and water damage. As a result, switching off the main water supply for the toilet is the first step, often on the side. Turning it counterclockwise is the way to stop the water flow then the problem can be acted upon. Often from a blocked toilet, using a plunger can help, otherwise, an auger can complete the job. If the issue is with the toilet itself, reading the manual can help, though, calling a plumber is more optimal. 

Hot Water System Malfunctioning

With regards to hot water systems, the system not working properly or errors occurring are often the main issues. Such as noises, a leaking tank, the water being smelly or discoloured to the system not producing hot or cold water can be the problems. Flushing the water away may help with the colour and smell issues, as well as help with the overall efficiency of the system. Most cases, however, will need a licensed plumber to help with the water heater situation.

Sump Pump Failing

When the sump pump of the home begins to not function properly, removing the screen and making sure debris is cleared can help the impeller move. Moreover, the pump might need more electricity to run or maybe a faulty float switch is present. Thermal overload may also be the issue if the system is older/ has been running for a longer period of time. 

How to Prevent Common Plumbing Emergencies

As plumbing emergencies can happen day or nights and on all days of the week, they are really unexpected. Therefore, ensuring that these issues can be prevented, or even less extreme can be really helpful. Some quick tips to help limit the number of plumbing difficulties are:

• Do not dispose of wipes and other condiments down the toilet for limiting blockages
• Stop grease, oil, hair, food scraps and other items being pushed down into the drain to prevent clogs
• If the disposal is installed in the sink, ensure larger foods and scraps are thrown out into the bin rather than through the disposal. They are not designed for the bigger contents and can be easily damaged
• Try to not hang items and alike on exposed piping or use other plumbing/ drainage as ways to store/ hold things. The weight or the blockage can cause them to break easily
• Try to not use drop-in cleaners for the toilet to limit the corrosive cleaners seeping into damaged pipes

   

24 Hour Emergency Plumbing for Sydney

Here at Optimised Plumbing Services, our Emergency Plumber operators work on all sorts of plumbing emergencies in Sydney. No matter if the task is big or small our professional plumbers can easily work in all suburbs and locations in the Sydney area. Moreover, both residential and commercial plumbing systems are covered by our expert services. Each of our 24 hour emergency plumber crew is fully licensed and follow the Plumbing code standards and notes. Likewise, the plumber always will arrive to the job site on time while also being completely ready for working on any task.If needing the best emergency plumber in Sydney, contact us on 02 8074 1475 or email us directly at contact@optimisedplumbingservices.com.au. We guarantee that our expert emergency plumbing team can quickly respond to the emergency to professional solve the dilemma at any time of the day.