5 Things to Do Before an Emergency Plumber Arrives for a Leak or Flood | Harvey, LA
Photo By Robert Kneschke at Shutterstock
There are many reasons why you might need to call an emergency plumber. Some common reasons include a malfunctioning or non-functioning hot water tank, a major leak, an absence of water running through your pipes, a sewer backup, frozen pipes and an overflowing toilet. If you’re faced with any of these situations and you’re located Harvey, LA, the first thing that you should do is call an emergency plumber like bluefrog Plumbing + Drain of New Orleans. This is also why it’s always a good idea to stick the number of an emergency plumber on your fridge. It’s always better to be over-prepared than unprepared. The situation is bound to become even messier and problematic the longer that you wait.
Emergency plumbers from bluefrog Plumbing + Drain of New Orleans are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Sometimes, some plumbers may give you some instructions on what you can do before they arrive. However, most of the time, they’ll tell you to sit tight and that they’ll send someone out right away. Even if the plumber speeds over to your home, you should still have some time to spare before they arrive. Don’t waste this time. There’s plenty that you can do in the face of a leak or a flood. Here are 5 of the things that you can do while you wait.
#1. Turn Off the Main Water Valve or the Electric Switches
If you’re faced with a flood or a leak, the first thing that you’ll want to do is locate the main water valves and turn them off. This will prevent water from flowing through your pipes and entering your home and creating more water damage. In general, you can usually expect to find your water shut-off valve next to your water meter. If you can’t find it, have your plumber show you where it is, so that you know for future reference.
Other than the main water valve, this might also be a good time to shut off electric switches if there are any electrical appliances nearby. If there’s a flood, shutting off all electricity to your home is also a good idea if there’s an electrical socket nearby. It’s always better to be safe than sorry! Once again, if you don’t know where the electrical switches or panels are, ask the emergency plumber to show you where these things are located when they arrive.
#2. Drain Water from the Pipes if Necessary
If you’re calling an emergency plumber because of leaks, you may also want to do one more thing after shutting off the water supply — open the sink faucets to drain water from the pipes. This is another great thing to do because it will help to further minimize damage to your home and to your plumbing system.
#3. Clean Up Any Messes
The next step is to remove excess water that’s in your home. You don’t want the water to sit around because it’ll only cause more problems down the road. This is especially true if a room or if your basement is flooded. Our plumbers will usually have the equipment necessary to help further remove moisture from your floor to prevent its structure from warping or getting damaged. Removing the excess water will also help the plumber better diagnose the problem in a timely manner.
Most homeowners won’t have any special equipment for these situations, but it doesn’t mean that there’s nothing that they can do. Any attempt to remove excess water will help. Use a mop, rag, or even a paper towel, if you don’t have anything available.
#4. Assess the Problem
If you still have some time to spare, you can also try to assess the problem, so you can give your plumber as much information as possible when they arrive. All of our plumbers will assess the situation and problem once they arrive; however, if you notice any anomalies or things that stand out, you might want to draw their attention to it first. For example, you may know exactly where the leak is once you’ve taken a look around your home. Or, you might notice that there’s a wet stain on one of the walls in the attic even though the leak is in the kitchen. This type of information can help your plumber better diagnose and understand the problem.
Some homeowners also recommend getting out a blueprint of your home. The blueprint will give our licensed technicians a quick overview of where all of the plumbing lies, so that they can work even more efficiently.
#5. Relax with Some Tea
Last but not least, sit back and wait for an emergency plumber. Don’t worry. No matter how bad the problem may seem, our licensed technicians in Harvey, LA will get the job done. We’ll help you diagnose the problem and figure out several solutions that fit the needs of your home and your budget. We’ll also walk you through all procedures, so you feel comfortable with the services that we offer.
The best thing that you can do for now is to sit tight, take some deep breaths and enjoy some tea while you wait for our plumbers to arrive. If you’re calm, you’re more likely to remember how to fix the problem in the future or what steps to take. You’ll also be better prepared for facing the situation once our plumber arrives.
Remember: Don’t Wait! Call an Emergency Plumber Immediately!
If you ever need an emergency plumber, give bluefrog Plumbing + Drain of New Orleans a call at 504-457-7135. Or, you can contact us through our website. Our licensed-technicians are trained to handle any plumbing problems that come their way, and we offer 24 hour services and affordable pricing. We don’t charge for the trip nor for any overtime expenses. On top of all that, we guarantee the quality of our work. Our technicians will make sure that you’re 100% satisfied before they leave.
Priority Service