5 Preventative Measures to Avoid Plumbing Emergencies

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No one likes to wake up to their toilet overflowing or to suddenly hear the sound of rushing water and find a broken pipe. Luckily, many plumbing emergencies can be prevented. By taking some simple steps now, you can avoid extensive and costly damages later.

Insulate Your Pipes

When it gets cold outside exposed pipes are prone to freezing which can cause them to burst. The easiest way to avoid this is to turn off things like outside spigots and swamp coolers and drain them of any water. Of course, this isn’t possible with all pipes, especially those that are part of your main plumbing system. If you have exposed pipes, insulate them with specially designed pipe insulators.

Be Cautious with Your Drains

Drains in your kitchen sink, shower and bathroom sinks should be treated cautiously. They aren’t designed to be able to handle everything. Be careful not to put things like bones, nuts or large items down your garbage disposal and don’t wash things like hair or pieces of toilet paper down your bathroom drains. Have a professional plumber clean your drains regularly to avoid buildup that can cause clogs and floods.

Perform Regular Maintenance Checks

Having regular maintenance checks performed on your appliances and plumbing system is one of the best ways to avoid a plumbing emergency. A plumber can find any problems and make necessary repairs. An experienced technician can also tell you if he finds any warning signs that could mean a problem is imminent. For a Long Island plumber, contact us.

Keep Tools Nearby

Many plumbing problems, like a leaky pipe or a clogged toilet can be taken care of quickly and easily with the right tools. The problem is that many people keep tools like wrenches, needle-nose pliers and plungers in inconvenient places like the garage or basement. Keep these tools close by to make jobs like unclogging a toilet or tightening a pipe easier.

Know Where Your Shutoff Valve Is

Knowing where your shutoff valve is can save your appliances, flooring and drywall during a plumbing emergency. This valve will turn off the water supply to your entire home, so you can stop a flood in its tracks. If you do have a plumbing emergency, turn off the water and then contact a plumber right away.

Many plumbing problems can be avoided, but emergencies still happen. If you have a plumbing emergency, call us. We are a Long Island plumber that offers 24/7 emergency service.