Emergency Plumbing: What to Do (and Not Do) While You Wait for a Plumber

Plumbing emergencies have a way of happening at the worst possible time — late at night, on a holiday weekend, or right before guests arrive. Whether it’s a burst pipe, an overflowing toilet, or a sudden loss of hot water, the minutes between when the problem starts and when a plumber arrives can make a significant difference in how much damage your home sustains. Knowing what to do — and just as importantly, what not to do — can help you protect your home and keep the situation from getting worse.

Shut Off the Water First

The very first thing you should do in most plumbing emergencies is stop the flow of water. For an isolated fixture like a toilet or sink, look for the shutoff valve located underneath or behind it and turn it clockwise to close it. If the problem is more widespread — like a burst pipe behind a wall — you’ll need to shut off the main water supply to your home. Knowing where your main shutoff valve is located before an emergency occurs is something every homeowner should make a priority.

Turn Off the Water Heater

If you’ve had to shut off the main water supply, turn off your water heater as well. Running a water heater without a water supply can cause the tank to overheat or sustain damage. If you have a gas water heater, switch it to the pilot setting rather than turning off the gas entirely.

Don’t Ignore a Possible Gas Leak

If your plumbing emergency involves a gas line — or if you smell gas at any point — don’t try to handle it yourself. Leave the building immediately, avoid turning any lights or switches on or off, and call your gas company and emergency services from outside. Gas leaks are a life-safety issue that requires immediate professional attention. Hank & Sons Plumbing offers emergency gas line services and can help assess and repair damage once it is safe to do so.

Minimize the Damage While You Wait

Once the water is off, do what you can to protect your home. Grab towels, mops, or buckets to contain standing water, and move furniture, rugs, or electronics away from the affected area if it’s safe to do so. If water has reached light fixtures, outlets, or your electrical panel, stay away from those areas and consider shutting off power to that part of your home at the breaker box.

What Not to Do

Avoid the temptation to attempt a DIY fix in the middle of an emergency. Wrapping a burst pipe with tape or pouring chemicals down a severely clogged drain may seem helpful in the moment, but these quick fixes can make the underlying problem worse and complicate the repairs your plumber will need to make. It’s also a good idea to avoid using any other plumbing fixtures in your home until the issue has been assessed.

Document the Damage

Before any cleanup begins, take photos and video of the damage. This documentation can be valuable when filing a homeowner’s insurance claim and gives your plumber a clearer picture of what occurred.

Call a Plumber You Can Trust

When a plumbing emergency strikes, you need fast, reliable help from a team that won’t leave you waiting. Hank & Sons Plumbing provides emergency plumbing services to homeowners and businesses throughout the Inland Empire. Call 909-524-2906 any time to get a plumber on the way quickly.