5 Plumbing Emergencies You Should Never Ignore

Plumbing problems are never fun. We all have that one friend who’s always calling with a toilet emergency, and it can be frustrating when we’re not able to help them out. Sometimes a plunger is exactly what our friend needed, but what do you do if your sink is overflowing? Or the water pressure in your shower suddenly drops? These are just a few of the many plumbing emergencies you should never ignore!

1. Leaky Faucets

Dripping water can lead to serious damages, including mold and mildew, affecting your home. Be mindful that the number of water fixtures in your home can lead to many problems. There are faucets in your bathroom and kitchen. Along with faucets all over your home from the laundry room, too, your garage, in addition to the outside faucets. All those leaky faucets can add up to a lot of water wasted.

A faucet that constantly leaks or drips is not only annoying but should be taken care of right away. If left untouched, your leaking faucet can cause your water bill to skyrocket and could potentially cause significant damage.

Leaks can be caused by a variety of things, from worn washers to corroded pipes. Replacing the washer on your faucet should take care of most dripping problems and is an easy DIY project you can do yourself with just a few tools.

If the leak is coming from your showerhead, there’s a good chance it’s because of mineral deposits that have built up over time. A water softener can help prevent minerals from forming and making problems worse. If you don’t have one in place, try using white vinegar to remove hard water buildup on fixtures.

2. Sink Clogs

The most common cause of a clogged kitchen or bathroom sink is food particles. Clean your sink routinely by removing the strainer and wiping down the inside with baking soda to eliminate any leftover residue that has been collected over time. If you have a garbage disposal in your sink, it may need to be cleaned out more often than usual.

If you can’t clear the clog, there is a possibility you have a blockage in your plumbing further down the line or possibly even a broken pipe. Most of the time, there is a blockage that we can remove with a professional drain cleaning or by using our hydro-jetting machine to remove debris that has built up on the walls of the pipe that is obstructing water from moving through the pipes.

3. Toilet Overflow

Whether you have kids who like to flush many items down the toilet or your pipes are old and rusty; this is one problem that should never be ignored.

Toilets typically overflow because they are blocked and can’t handle too much water all at once, so if someone has been flushing multiple times in succession, it’s likely time for some attention from a plumbing pro to see what is causing the blockage or overflow.

One thing that is often associated with a clogged toilet is a sewer backup.

4. Sewer Backup

Sewage backups should never be ignored because they can contaminate all of the floors in your house. When the water in a toilet bowl is unable to move through the pipes, it will then back up and come out of sinks or showers. It’s worth noting that this could be caused by problems with indoor plumbing as well, so if you notice one room suddenly smells bad while another does not – chances are there might be an issue somewhere in your sewer line anywhere from the street to under your home.

Sewer backup is often caused by a blocked or clogged sewer line that has built up over time with soil particles from your yard washing into it as well as other debris like plastic bags and paper. If you have a septic tank, it might be that the leach lines are too close to where your home’s plumbing pipes drain, and there is not enough room for everything.

Sewers often back up during big storms because the force of the water rushing down drains can push wastewater into our pipes, which causes them to overflow. It’s a good idea to have your sewer cleaned and cleared by professionals every few years so that this type of emergency doesn’t happen in the first place.

5. Burst Pipes

Burst pipes in Southern California are often caused by old or corroded piping that has rusted through in areas where water flow is especially high.

Another reason for a pipe bursting is a significant increase in the water pressure. If the pressure in your pipes gets too high, they can and likely will burst. If the water pressure in your home is too high, Canyon Hills Plumbing can install a pressure-reducing valve to decrease it to safer levels below 50 psi.

If your pipes have burst and flooded your house with water, then there’s no time to waste! Turn off the main valve at the top of your home, call a professional plumber (and say goodbye to those new shoes!), start mopping up as much water as possible, remove all furniture from the area below where you think the leak is coming from, and don’t forget to shut down any electronics or appliances in this zone.

How To Avoid Plumbing Emergencies

The best way to avoid these emergencies is with preventative measures like checking for leaks regularly when you shower or wash dishes and make sure to clear out your kitchen sink drain pipe if it starts smelling funny. The last thing you want on top of an emergency plumbing situation is a smelly home!

These are just some of the many plumbing emergencies you should never ignore! Plumbing emergencies can happen without warning and can be a complete nightmare for homeowners.

Do You Have A Plumbing Emergency?

Canyon Hills Plumbing is here to help with all your plumbing needs. We are experts in handling any plumbing problem, from leaky faucets, clogged toilets and clogged drains to water heaters and sewer lines. Our plumbers are licensed, insured, bonded, and experienced professionals who will be there when you need us most.

Let our team handle your next plumbing emergency so you can get back to living life worry-free! Call now for an appointment or read more throughout our website about how we can help with your next plumbing emergency!