You can save yourself some grief and a lot of worries, by knowing what to do ahead of time if there’s a plumbing emergency.
You might spend a lot of time figuring out what you’re going to do before the weekend arrives. However, how much thought do you put into what you’ll do if you need an emergency plumber?
Most likely, not much.
After all, a Dallas plumbing emergency is an unforeseen event. It’s hard to plan for something if you don’t know that it’s going to happen.
However, you can think of it this way: things can go wrong with your home. It makes sense to make plans for the event that there’s a problem with the essential mechanics of your home, such as your electrical, HVAC, or plumbing system.
Don’t let a plumbing emergency catch you off guard. By choosing an emergency plumber now, you’ll know who to call when the unimaginable happens.
To learn how to choose the right emergency plumber, keep reading.
When Things Go Wrong With Plumbing
Many things can go awry with your plumbing system. A leak can spring in the basement, a pipe can burst or your sewage can back up. These problems and others can happen at any given time.
You can, however, avoid most problems by taking care of your plumbing. For instance, just because you can fit something in a drain, that doesn’t mean it should go in there.
Coffee grinds, potato peels, and grease have no place in your plumbing system. Also, bones, shells, and other non-food items are a definite no-no when it comes to things that are safe to throw down the drain.
The same goes for your toilet. You can flush a lot of things down your toilet, but that doesn’t mean that you should do it.
Avoid flushing heavy materials such as baby wipes, feminine napkins, and cotton balls down the toilet. By using the toilet to dispose of this kind of trash, you can easily find yourself in the middle of a plumbing emergency.
Know the Signs of Trouble With Your Plumbing
Most people reach for drain cleaner when there’s a clog. However, it’s not wise to use a drain cleaner often.
If you use drain cleaner too often, you can turn a small problem into a big one. Pipes don’t like drain cleaners.
Drain cleaners do eat away small clogs. However, they also eat away your pipes bit by bit every time you use them.
Additionally, when you move into your home, one of the first things that you should do is locate the water shut off valve. In an emergency, you won’t have time to look for it. By knowing the location of the water shut off valve, you can avoid major water damage if a pipe bursts.
Also, low water pressure may not seem like much of a threat. You should understand, however, that plumbing relies on pressure to move water through pipes. If you notice a considerable drop in water pressure, that may mean that water pressure is stressing your plumbing system.
Alternatively, you may have the water pressure set too high. This excessive water pressure can also place a strain on your plumbing system and cause a pipe to burst.
You must take care of all appliances that connect to your plumbing system. As an example, check appliances such as your water heater and garbage disposal regularly to make sure they’re in good condition. Preventative maintenance can help you find problems before they spiral out of control.
It’s Hard to Keep Your Cool During an Emergency
When a plumbing emergency happens, people are usually mentally battling with themselves as they try to figure out how to resolve the problem as quickly and cheaply as possible. When someone’s in this situation, however, they typically can’t have both. Ultimately, most people settle for whoever will come the fastest.
Don’t let yourself get caught in this situation. A combination of panic and a lack of foresight can result in you making an unwise decision.
Unfortunately, lack of planning will typically lead to one of two outcomes during a plumbing emergency: either you’ll pay too much, or you’ll end up paying more down the line because of a subpar repair.
Usually, people end up paying too much during a plumbing emergency when they don’t know who to call. They just hire the first person that answers the phone.
Or perhaps, you may have enough patience to call a few plumbers in an emergency, but you only have enough time to assess who has the cheapest service, so you hire that plumber. Either way, you’re cheating yourself out of the benefits of vetting a service provider if you wait until you need one to call.
If you have an emergency and you failed to prepare — stop and take a breath. Go online and look for 24-hour plumbing emergency services.
Check out online review sites and see what other people have said about local providers. Look for reviews where consumers seem to feel satisfied with their service.
Also, look for reviews from homeowners who were also experiencing an emergency. These reviews can give you an idea of a potential service provider’s response.
What You Need in an Emergency Plumber
The practical thing to do is to check out plumbers as soon as you move into a neighborhood. Begin by looking for 24-hour plumbing services.
You may find a few of them out there. However, every plumber that offers 24-hour repair doesn’t necessarily provide quality service. Accordingly, you’ll have to do some research to find a good emergency plumber.
Begin your research by asking around. Talk to friends, family members, and even business owners to find the names of plumbers who are available when called. The last thing that you need during a plumbing emergency is a service provider that will make you wait for two days.
Also, an emergency can happen at any time of the day or night. Therefore, make sure that your chosen emergency plumbing provider is available 24-hours a day.
You should also make sure that your potential emergency plumber offers a range of services. Remember, we’re talking about an emergency, so you never know what might go wrong.
When you start to talk to potential plumbing services, find out what they consider an emergency. You must make sure that both you and your provider are on the same page when it comes to this issue. Look for a plumber who provides emergency services, such as:
- Cleaning drains
- Clogged sewer lines
- Fixing broken water heaters
- Repairing leaks
- Replacing broken pipes
- Replacing broken water heaters
- Replacing sewer lines
Ideally, you want an emergency plumber who’ll deliver a range of services around-the-clock.
Don’t Forget the Basics of Vetting Service Persons
You should know the questions to ask a plumber when searching for an emergency service provider. To begin with, it’s important to make sure that your plumber is licensed, bonded, and insured. Anyone can say they have these credentials when asked, and most plumbers are honest.
Nevertheless, you should openly ask potential service providers if they are licensed, bonded, and insured. If they answer yes, they should have the ability to show you the proof with no hesitation.
These credentials make sure that you’re covered if something should go wrong. What’s more, they ensure that you’re not responsible if a service person hurts themselves while they’re fixing your property during an emergency. It’s your right to ask, and it’s a smart way to protect yourself and your home.
However, you’ll never disqualify a dishonest plumber if you don’t ask to see proof of their credentials. If you don’t ask for visual proof, you might as well have not checked at all.
Also, watch out for service providers who’ve just obtained a license. They may have the proper credentials, but they may lack the experience that you need during an emergency.
How to Choose a Plumber in Dallas, TX
If you have an emergency, the first thing you may ask yourself is, “How do I find an emergency plumber near me?” The biggest problem with finding a plumber during an emergency for most people is that they just don’t have time to do research. If it’s the middle of the night and you have a plumbing emergency, you don’t have time to interview two or three plumbers.
Furthermore, you don’t have time to weigh your options. All you have time to do is find someone who can help right away. At the same time, you have to find someone that’s within your budget at that moment in time.
You can pay a hefty penalty if you wait until an emergency to find a service provider. There are plenty of unscrupulous plumbers who can’t wait for a desperate homeowner in need of their services. When a homeowner is having an emergency, this kind of service provider will charge them as much as possible.
A Few Things to Think About When Hiring a Plumber
It’s worth reemphasizing that you must ask for referrals. Online reviews are helpful; however, a word-of-mouth referral is priceless.
When everything’s working right, finding a plumber is most likely the last thing on your mind. However, this is the time to find a service provider. By finding an emergency plumber ahead of time, you give yourself the benefit of not having to work with a disreputable service provider in an emergency situation.
People that you know can tell you the names of service persons who they’ve hired and trust. There’s no better testimony to a trade person’s work quality than experience.
You should also check a potential service provider’s reputation with the local Better Business Bureau. The BBB maintains a database of customer reviews about local service providers. On the BBB website, you can find detailed reports about various plumbers in Dallas.
Also, check a potential service provider’s reputation with official trade groups. For instance, you can check with the Association of Plumbing and Heating Contractors (APHC) as you search for an emergency plumber. This organization has helped both plumbers and consumers for almost 100 years.
By connecting with the APHC, you can find a skilled, ethical plumber. This organization maintains a database of approved plumbers for your consideration. They’ll only endorse providers who display professionalism in their trade.
Choosing the Right Plumber is Vital
When it comes to plumbing, there’s more going on behind those walls than you might imagine. Pipes run behind walls, under floors, and over ceilings.
A plumbing leak can wreak havoc on the structural integrity of your home. A busted or leaking pipe can weaken the integrity of the wood and cause it to fail.
In a worst-case scenario, water damage can cause a part of your home to collapse. The presence of heavy furniture, appliances, and other items increases this hazard during a plumbing emergency.
When your water system fails, you need capable help — and you need it fast. By choosing a plumber ahead of time, you can protect yourself, your family, and your home.
Trust Us to Get Things Back to Normal in an Emergency
When a plumbing emergency arises, a capable provider is there and ready to help. Many plumbing services offer 24-hour emergency service. However, it’s critical to choose a provider who will do the job right.
Mr. Rooter has helped homeowners in Dallas, Texas recover from some of the worst plumbing disasters imaginable. Our service providers have decades of experience. They’re ready and able to serve your needs when you need an emergency plumber.
Contact us now if you have an emergency or you need service. Our friendly plumbing experts are standing by and ready to help you resolve your plumbing issues.