Best Buckhead plumbers, Morningside Plumbing, know that plumbing issues can be stressful and often inconvenient. However, not every plumbing problem is a full-blown emergency. Understanding the difference between urgent situations and those that can wait will save you time, money, and unnecessary stress. Here’s a guide to help you determine when to call us immediately and when to schedule a regular appointment.
What is a Buckhead Plumbing Emergency?
1. Burst Pipes Require Speedy Service
- Why it’s an emergency: A burst pipe can release gallons of water quickly, leading to flooding, structural damage, and potential mold growth. Immediate action is necessary to shut off the water supply and repair the line. After a line freezes and then bursts, it can leave you without access to water, and that is an emergency in and of itself.
2. Get Sewer Backup Services
- Why it’s an emergency: A sewage backup spills contaminated raw sewage. And when inside your home or business, sewage poses serious health risks. Sewage backups indicate a blockage or clogging problem with your sewer line, which needs urgent plumbing services to prevent further contamination and damage.
- Please do not attempt to clean up sewage without proper PPE; leave it to Morningside Plumbing.
3. Severe Leaks Need Fast Repair Service
- Why it’s an emergency: While small drips can usually wait, severe leaks—especially those involving water lines or hot water heaters—can cause extensive damage by releasing significant amounts of water in seconds. These leaks should be addressed immediately to prevent further issues.
4. No Access to Water
- Why it’s an emergency: If you suddenly have no water, it could be due to a major plumbing issue, like a catastrophic leak. Other reasons your water might be shut off may be unrelated to your plumbing. The county may turn off water access for repairs and upgrades.
5. Gas Leaks Are Emergencies
- Why it’s an emergency: While not a water-related issue, plumbers also handle gas lines. Suppose you smell gas or suspect a leak. In that case, evacuating the building is crucial, as contacting emergency services and then calling a professional Buckhead plumber to inspect and repair the gas line.
What is Not a Plumbing Emergency?
While some Buckhead plumbing issues are inconvenient, they don’t always require immediate attention. These situations can typically wait for a scheduled service appointment:
1. Minor Leaks Can Wait
- Why it’s not an emergency: A small drip from a faucet or a minor leak in a non-essential line usually doesn’t cause immediate damage. While they shouldn’t be ignored indefinitely, solutions for these issues can often wait until normal business hours.
2. Slow Drains Do Not Need Immediate Attention
- Why it’s not an emergency: If your sink or shower drains slowly, it’s usually due to a clog that can be addressed with drain cleaning. Unless it’s causing a backup, this isn’t typically urgent, and you can wait for a plumbing solution to be scheduled at a convenient time.
3. Running Toilets May Wait
- Why it’s not an emergency: A running toilet is annoying and can waste water, but it won’t cause immediate damage. This issue can often be resolved with a simple repair that doesn’t require emergency service.
4. Low Water Pressure Will Wait
- Why it’s not an emergency: Low water pressure can be frustrating, but it’s not usually a sign of a critical issue. It might indicate a buildup of sediment in your pipes or a problem with your water supply, which can be addressed during regular service hours.
What to Do in a Plumbing Emergency
If you’re facing a plumbing emergency, the first step is to turn off the water supply to the affected area to prevent further damage. For gas leaks, evacuate the premises immediately. Then, call Morningside Plumbing right away. We’re available 24/7 to handle emergencies and ensure your home or business is safe and secure.
When to Schedule Non-Emergency Repairs With a Plumbing Company
For non-urgent issues, scheduling a service appointment at your earliest convenience is best. Regular maintenance and timely repairs can help prevent small problems from becoming emergencies.
Plumber Shares How to Prevent Plumbing Emergencies
Preventing plumbing emergencies is one of the best ways to protect your property and avoid unexpected stress. With proactive maintenance and simple precautions, you can keep your plumbing system running smoothly and reduce the likelihood of costly repairs. Here’s a guide from Morningside Plumbing to help you prevent emergencies and maintain a healthy plumbing system.
1. Regular Inspections and Maintenance
Scheduling regular plumbing inspections is one of the most effective ways to catch potential problems before you need emergency plumbing services. A professional plumbing company can identify issues like small leaks, corrosion, or worn-out components that could lead to bigger problems.
- What to inspect: Have your pipes, water heater, and fixtures checked at least once a year. Older properties, in particular, may require more frequent inspections to monitor aging pipes.
- Doing this can save money: For example, catching a cracked sewer line before it worsens can mean that sewer line repair, rather than sewer line replacement, will fix the issue. There can be a significant price difference between the two,
- What to do: Ensure that your Buckhead plumber checks for signs of wear, loose fittings, and any early signs of blockages in your drains or sewer lines.
2. How to Take Care of Your Drains and Drain Cleaning
Clogs are a common cause of plumbing emergencies, but they’re often preventable with a little care.
- Kitchen Drains: Avoid pouring grease, fats, and oils down the drain, as these can solidify and cause blockages. Use a strainer to catch food particles.
- Bathroom Drains: Hair, soap scum, and personal care products can build up and cause slow drains or clogs. Install drain covers in showers and sinks to catch hair and debris.
- Toilets: Only flush toilet paper and human waste. Items like wipes, feminine hygiene products, and paper towels can cause severe blockages.
3. Install Water Softeners
In our area, hard water with minerals like calcium and magnesium can build up in your pipes and appliances over time. Water flow, low water pressure, pipe corrosion, and potential leaks are reduced when these minerals build up.
- What to do: Consider installing a water softener to reduce mineral buildup and extend the lifespan of your plumbing system. This is particularly important for water heaters, as hard water can significantly reduce their efficiency and lifespan.
4. Monitor Water Pressure
High water pressure can strain your plumbing system, leading to leaks, burst pipes, and even appliance damage.
- Use a pressure gauge to check your water pressure regularly. Ideally, it should be between 40-60 psi. Consider installing a pressure regulator to protect your pipes and fixtures if it’s too high.
5. Insulate Water Lines During Winter
Buckhead may not experience extreme cold, but a sudden drop in temperature can still cause pipes to freeze and burst, especially in unheated areas like basements or garages. Remember December 2023?
- The best plumbing advice is to insulate pipes in vulnerable areas to prevent freezing. Keep a trickle of water running through faucets on particularly cold nights to prevent pipes from freezing.
6. Maintain Your Water Heater
A failing tank water heater can leak, causing flooding and even gas leaks if improperly maintained.
- What to do: Flush your water heater annually to remove sediment buildup that can lead to inefficiency and damage. Regularly inspect the unit for signs of corrosion or wear and replace it when necessary.
7. Know the Location of Your Shut-Off Valves
Knowing how to shut off the water supply in a plumbing emergency quickly can prevent extensive damage.
- Familiarize yourself with the location of the main water shut-off valve and individual shut-off valves for sinks, toilets, and appliances. Please ensure everyone in your household or business knows how to turn them off in an emergency.
8. Educate Your Household or Employees
Plumbing emergencies often happen because of simple mistakes or misunderstandings.
- What to do: Take the time to educate everyone in your home or business about proper plumbing care, including what not to flush, how to prevent clogs, and how to identify early signs of a problem.
Morningside Plumbing | The Best Plumbers in Buckhead
Now, you know more about what is and is not a plumbing emergency. And isn’t it comforting to know some preventative steps you can take to reduce the risk of having one? At Morningside Plumbing, our Buckhead plumbers want you to know what to do when your plumbing breaks down. That is why we share our best tips and tricks with you.
Please call us for fast plumbing solutions. Our home plumbers are here to help with regular drain maintenance, video sewer inspections, and all plumbing repairs. Our plumbing services include tankless water heater installation, repair, replacement, and gas line services. We provide some of the best local Buckhead plumbing services around.
Our top plumbing repair services include toilet repair, faucet repair, and shower repair. Our pipe bursting and trenchless services are trenchless sewer line and water line replacement and new pipe installation. Call us to repair pipe leaks and to install leak detection devices. For drains, we provide hydro-jetting and sewer jetter services. Our other services include water main repair, replacement, and whole home re-pipe.
At Morningside Plumbing, we’re committed to providing reliable, prompt service whenever you need us—whether it’s an emergency or not. Don’t hesitate to call us 24/7 at 404-844-5993 if you have an emergency call. We answer questions and will be happy to help you. However, there is no need to wait for an emergency to contact us. Please schedule an appointment with us, the best Buckhead plumber near me, today!