Emergency Plumbing Tips Every Tuolumne County Homeowner Should Know
Owning a home in Tuolumne County is amazing with our moderate weather to beautiful mountain views. With all the great perks there are bumps in the road that can happen with your home’s plumbing. All homeowners know things can go wrong with their plumbing from time-to-time and it’s important to be prepared. These issues ranges from non-stop leaking faucets to a leaking water heater, and there are several emergency plumbing tips every Tuolumne county homeowner needs to know. These tips let you know what to do to contain the problem and protect your home against water damages.
It is very important that you know the location of your breaker box and where the water main shutoff for your home is located. Depending on the type of plumbing emergency, you may need to shut off the water to the home as well as the electrical breakers for specific types of appliances.
With all of the situations below we give you tips to get the situation contained until a professional plumber can arrive. Robertson Plumbing in Sonora California has extensive experience with all of the issues below. Please give us a call at (209) 532–9172 so we can come to your home to get these issues resolved ASAP and return your home life to normal.
Broken Water Pipes
Water pipes can break for a variety of reasons. If you have a broken water pipe, you need to shut off the water main right away. Turn on the faucets in the house to remove as much water as possible. You want to also clean up any standing water that is inside the home. Remember to shut off electrical breakers for the hot water heater, water softener, and other appliances using water. With broken water pipes you will want to call a licensed and insured professional plumber such as Robertson Plumbing as soon as possible.
Living in Tuolumne County freezing is one of the biggest causes for exterior pipes bursting. Be sure to read our article on Winterizing Your Plumbing to Prevent Burst Pipes.
Leaking Water Pipes
Leaking water pipes can do more damage to the home than broken pipes because leaks can be harder to notice. By the time you do notice the leak the water could have gotten into insulation, wood, and other areas of the home not easily accessible causing damage or mold issues which are hidden.
You will want to shut off the water main and drain all water out of the pipes like you would for a broken pipe if you do not know the source of the leak. If the leak is coming from a specific location, like from under the dishwasher, you may only have to shut the water off under the kitchen sink. Additionally, if the leak is related to a water-type appliance, shut off the breaker to that appliance.
Leaking Toilets
Shut off the water to the toilet and flush it to drain the tank and bowel as best you can. It is a good idea to put buckets under the leak or use towels to keep water contained, as there will still be some water left in the toilet.
Leaking Faucets
Shut off the water under the sink or in the tub/shower access area to the leaking faucet. Turn it on to drain out any remaining water.
Leaking Hot Water Heaters
For this problem, shut off the water main into the home. Turn off the hot water heater breaker. Then, turn on both hot and cold faucets to drain most of the water out of the water pipes and the hot water heater tank. Your water heater should have a drain pan under it with a connected drain. Any remaining water should remain contained and go down the drain.
Be sure to read our articles on Can I Install a Water Heater Myself and What is the rumbling sound coming from the water heater.
Clogged Toilets and Sink Drains
First try using the appropriate plunger to unclog the blockage. Do not flush the toilet or add more water to the sink. If you choose to use a clog-removal product, verify it is compatible with your plumbing system. If you are on a septic system, large amounts of drain cleaning chemicals can kill the beneficial bacteria that are needed in your septic system to break down solid waste.