When you’ve experiencing a sudden plumbing problem, it can be easy to panic, so we’ve put together this quick-action plan for emergency plumbing Cupertino residents like you can use. When in need of emergency plumbing for your Cupertino home, follow these steps to make it through with as little pain as possible given the circumstances.
Step 1: Call for Emergency Plumbing Assistance
First, get professional help on the way. Call our expert team at Performance Plumbing at (415) 831-0348 or (650) 583-3311 and one of our friendly plumbers will head over immediately in an emergency.
Keep in mind that each of our plumbers is a fully licensed professional with years of experience in plumbing, so they’ll know exactly what to do when they arrive and will get to work immediately to fix the situation. Time is of the essence when you’re in a plumbing emergency, so don’t try to do it all yourself or use an unlicensed freelance handyman who might not have enough experience, because it can make the problem continue to grow until it gets out of hand.
Once you’ve gotten a professional plumber on the way, move on to the steps below to do what you can to mitigate the problem until help arrives.
Step 2: Turn Off Water Flow to the Entire Property
The simplest, most effective way to shut down the problem is to turn off water flow to the entire property by accessing the main water shutoff valve. Typically, you can find this important valve in the basement or utility areas of your property such as outdoor walls or closets. Once you’ve located the valve, turn it clockwise to shut off the water. If you need to reactivate the water, turn it counter-clockwise. Keep in mind that when professional help arrives, they can help you with reactivating the water, so it may be best to keep it shut off until they confirm all problems are fixed.
While it’s important to use the main shutoff valve in a plumbing emergency, it’s a good idea to know where it’s located ahead of time. If you’re not currently in a plumbing emergency, or want to prepare for the next time an emergency happens, make sure not only you but everyone in your household knows where this important valve is located.
Step 3: Disable the Water Heater to Avoid Bigger Problems
Once the water is shut off to the entire property, it’s very important to also disable the water heater to prevent it from filling with steam and cracking or bursting because new water isn’t coming into it. If you have an electric water heater, find the circuit breaker nearby and disable the circuit that’s directing electricity to the unit. If you have a gas water heater, look for a pilot light to disable or a thermostat to shut off. When expert plumbing help arrives, be sure to let them know you did this so they can help check your work and also help reactivate the water heater later for you.
Step 4: Do What You Can Around the Problem Area
As you’re waiting for help to arrive, you can still take some action to help reduce the plumbing problem. Gather up tools like towels, buckets, duct tape, and anything else that can help to slow or patch up leaks, and catch and remove water. If you called Performance Plumbing, we respond as quickly as possible, so we’ll be there soon to help. Remain calm and be ready to answer the door and fill us in on any necessary details.