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Considering the current environment, a lot of people are worried about what to do if something goes wrong within their homes. The essence of a stay at home order is to keep people at home and responsibly socially distanced from others, but what happens when you have an emergency? Most plumbers in Arlington, TX are still open for this very reason, because if you have a plumbing emergency you need someone to turn too.

Even a small leak or small plumbing issue deserves a phone call to a plumber because a small plumbing issue can quickly turn into a costly one if not properly resolved. This is a great time to assess your current plumbing system and determine if there are any problems that an Arlington, TX plumber could help you resolve so you don’t wake up in the middle of the night to a burst pipe or a flooded basement.

Of course, there is a big difference between what constitutes a plumbing emergency and what can wait. If you are unsure, the best thing you can do is call your local plumber and ask them for advice. Plumbers are aware of the crisis that the nation is in right now, and will try to offer you guidance to the best of their abilities. If it is an emergency you will be grateful you reached out to someone that can actually come in and help. The last thing you want is to make your home inhabitable right now due to a preventable plumbing issue.

While you should always consult a plumber, here is a useful guide that can help you determine whether or not you need an emergency plumber. The following situations almost always fall under the guideline of an emergency and should be addressed as soon as possible to prevent further damage.

You Are at Risk of Flooding or Flood Damage Has Occurred

There are a variety of reasons that a flood may occur, but if there is any water starting to pool in your home from your plumbing system you need to immediately stop what you are doing and call an Arlington, TX plumber. Remember, a little pool of water will not stay that way, all major floods start with a small amount of water. Leaking water that is not contained can lead to huge problems, even a small leaky pipe. A leaky pipe is simply an indicator that the system is wearing down, and while the leak may not bother you when the pipe bursts or the joint cracks you will find yourself in a much more urgent situation.

Some of the most common causes of flooding include a failed sump pump, sewer backup, floor drain clog, or burst pipe. This list, however, is by no means limiting. There are dozens of reasons why you may encounter a flood in your home, and not all of them will fit into a tidy little list. Any time you notice water damage you need to call in a plumber right away to get to the bottom of it. Even if you don’t know the cause of the water leak, a plumber is the best call because they can inspect your system and get to the bottom of it.

The longer you wait the greater chance that you will end up with flood damage, which will make the plumbing repair much more expensive. At that point not only will you need a plumber to fix the issue causing the flooding, but you will need to call in a water damage crew to try to remediate the system and inspect for mold. Water damage can quickly get out of hand, and this is not the time or situation when you want to be stuck outside of your home. If there is any sign of leaking water or flooding you should be on the phone with your local plumbing company immediately.

Your Sewer Is Backing Up

Similar to flooding, a sewage back-up is never something to ignore, especially because it likely will not be limited to just a simple backup. Usually, when the sewer line starts to backup you have some warning signs. Lines that are slow to drain throughout the house are usually your first indication. While a slow drain in one location of the house can indicate a localized clog, multiple slow drains usually indicate that something is wrong with your sewage system.

After the drains start to slow you may start to see the actual wastes back out of your drains at some point. This generally happens at the lowest floor of your home. If you have a basement the backup will probably occur at your floor drain, otherwise, it may happen in the washroom or if you have a first-floor bathroom. A little pooling of wastes that slowly then start to drain back in may not be alarming at first glance, but it should be.

Outside of the obvious unsanitary nature of having wastes enter your home, a small backup indicates that a larger one is coming. That large backup will be impossible to control and will likely cause flood damage. It also will smell hideous and can make it hard to live under unhealthy circumstances. In addition, once it reaches this point you will not be able to run any water until it is resolved because nothing will drain. Running any water at all will only make the sewage even worse.

While at this point it is easy to see it is a plumbing emergency, it would have been better for everyone in your house if you had sought out help before it got to this point. This is why at any signs of a sewage issue you should call a plumber to come to inspect your pipes. A clog that is caught quickly can be resolved cheaply and without too much hassle. The plumber can also offer you advice on how to prevent the clog from returning or recommend regular drain cleaning to help prevent the above scenario from ever occurring in your home. It is hard enough to be trapped in your home right now, you don’t want to be trapped with your sewage as well.

Your Water Is Not Working

While this goes without saying if the water in your home is not working then this definitely constitutes a plumbing emergency and you should call a plumber after calling your local water authority. You should always call the local water authority first because they control the water that is coming into your home. You need to ensure that the water has not been turned off for repairs or another situation temporarily. You can also check with your neighbors to see if their water is still running.

If you cannot find a reasonable explanation for why your water is not running, you need to call an Arlington, TX plumber right away, and get to the bottom of the situation. It is impossible to live without water and it is actually a huge safety concern. Not only will you be prevented from using the bathroom or bathing, but you also cannot clean or cook effectively without water. This is an issue that needs to be resolved almost immediately and with any luck, the explanation will be a simple one.

You Have Reason to Think a Pipe Might Burst

Frozen pipes are not a huge concern in Arlington, TX, but the weather patterns are shifting and these days nothing is completely off the table. If you have reason to think that a pipe is frozen you may want to contact a plumber for advice about how to properly warm it back up without causing any damage. The problem with frozen spigots or pipes is that they expand due to the force of water not being able to easily pass through them. The frozen portion stops water from flowing, but the constant pressure causes the pipe to expand. Eventually, it will crack and once the pipe thaws out the water flow will rush through it hitting the crack and causing flooding or even worse, a massive burst that sprays water everywhere.

If you have reason to believe that your pipes are frozen the best thing you can do is locate the water shut off valve and turn it off. After this, you can talk to your plumber and find out the safest way to get the water back on and running in your home. Potentially investing in better pipe insulation down the road might be something worth your while. If you don’t know where your water shut off valves are, make a mental note to talk to the plumbing technician next time they are out at your house so you know in the case of an emergency.

Plumbing Problems That Can Wait a Bit Longer

Now that you have a basic idea of what the major plumbing emergencies are, it may be a bit reassuring to read about which plumbing problems can wait a bit. Keep in mind that wait a bit just means wait a few days. It does not mean that you shouldn’t call a plumber, but it does mean that if it’s a Saturday night the issue can wait until the weekdays to resolve. A scheduled plumbing visit is always easier on everyone, but only if the situation is controllable. In addition, keep in mind that when you schedule a plumbing repair your technician has the chance to order or obtain the parts that are necessary to complete the repair. While a plumber may be able to get out to your home to assess and control an emergency at any time, they may not always be able to get the parts to fix it right away.

Preventative plumbing maintenance can always wait until normal business hours to be done. In fact, it is a great idea to have a scheduled visit on the books every six months to a year to keep your system working at its best. While you can delay a few months with the health crisis occurring right now if you have any plumbing concerns it is best to keep the appointment so you can make sure that you aren’t going to end up in an emergency situation down the road.

Slow running drains are also something that can usually wait a few days to address. While they are annoying and usually a sign of a partial clog, a few more days is likely not going to change anything for the worse. You do need to have someone come out and take a look at the situation, but it doesn’t have to be the minute that you notice.

Of course, anything that is elective such as remodel work can wait unless you are in the middle of a project and hit a plumbing snag. For instance, if you are remodeling the only bathroom in your home and suddenly the water is not running properly to your bathroom, you will need a plumber to come out to your home and assess the situation right away. Otherwise, it is probably best to temporarily put a hold on any remodeling work until things settle down again. The same is true of any new appliance installations such as a gas stove, water heater, or dishwasher. Of course, if one of these items breaks down then you have no choice but to replace it at which point a call to the right plumbing service is in order.

Whether you find yourself in a plumbing emergency in Arlington, TX or simply in need of some plumbing help during this crisis you can always rely on Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Fort Worth- Arlington, TX. Our company has been helping local customers with their plumbing needs for decades, and as an essential service, our phone lines are always open. If you have a plumbing issue our trained plumbing technicians will be glad to come out and help you keep your plumbing system in working order so you can shelter at home safely.