When a plumbing emergency happens, the first thing to do is stop the flow of water. Turn off the main water shutoff valve or the shutoff valve for the problem appliance (usually found underneath sinks and toilets, and behind clothes washers, water heaters and other appliances) ASAP.
If you turn off the main water supply, you should also turn off your water heater. This can be done by turning off the circuit breakers or the gas supply to the water heater. Failure to do so can cause the water heater to overheat, possibly damaging the heating elements.
You and everyone who resides in your home should know where the shutoff valves are. If not, take a little time to educate everyone. A few minutes of education could save you some costly water damage later.
Leaks
If a pipe leaks or breaks, or if a joint should loosen, immediately turn off your home’s main shutoff valve and try to contain the water with a bucket or some other means of catching water.
Clogged Toilet
If a toilet begins to overflow, stop the water flow by reaching inside the tank of the toilet and pushing the tank stopper down into its valve seat. Hold until the tank fills and the water stops. Next, turn off the shutoff valve underneath the toilet or turn off the main water shutoff valve.
A clogged toilet should be treated with repeated plunging to build pressure, pushing the clog along. If the plunger does not work, call Atomic.
Frozen Pipes
If a pipe should freeze, thaw the pipe slowly with a hair dryer or by wrapping it with towels soaked in hot water. Heating the pipe slowly may prevent the pipe from breaking.
To prevent frozen pipes, drain water from outdoor faucets and pipes, remove and store outdoor hoses and never leave your home unheated during cold weather. Inside the house you can open the cabinet doors for your kitchen sink and any sinks that are on an outside wall. This will allow the heat from inside the house to warm up the walls with pipes in them. Freeze-resistant outside faucets and insulation for pipes are also available to reduce the risk of freezing.
Storm & Hurricane Services
Anyone who has lived in Hampton Roads for even a short amount of time has likely experienced a damaging storm. Because of our unique geographical and geological layout, even a sudden and short-lived storm can do a substantial amount of damage if it overwhelms the city’s storm systems and overflows into the streets – and into your home.
The storm can be stressful, but the cleanup afterward doesn’t have to be. The experts at Atomic Plumbing to help you make sure that no contaminated water has made its way into your family’s clean water supply, and that all pipes are working properly.
