It’s easy to feel stressed out when you’re facing unexpected plumbing issues, but it’s important to remain calm and use the right strategy to effective address your need for Orinda plumbing repairs. As one of the leading teams for Orinda plumbing repairs, we’re prepared this quick set of tips to navigate you through the process, whether you’re facing a plumbing emergency or have more complex plumbing repair needs.
Call us immediately if it’s a plumbing emergency
Above all else, if you’re facing a plumbing emergency where damage is likely to continue to accrue if the issue is not addressed, call us immediately for our 24/7 emergency plumbing services. If you think there could be an emergency that puts the safety of people at risk, call emergency responders immediately and worry about the plumbing second as a lower priority.
With our 24/7 emergency plumbing services, you can rest assured that a fully licensed, insured plumber will be dispatched to your location immediately to investigate and repair the plumbing problem at hand.
If water is flowing uncontrollably, use shutoff valves
If you’re waiting for a plumber to arrive, you may want to use shutoff valves to try to stop the flow of water in affected areas. If the problem is in a specific area, such as under a sink, look for a shutoff valve for that specific location connected to pipes. There should be a valve that looks like a knob, and it is commonly oval or circular in shape. Turn the valve clockwise to shut off the water to that location.
If you’re unable to find a valve for the specific area that is affected, or if multiple areas are affected, you may want to use the main shutoff valve for the entire property. If you know where the main water shutoff valve is, go to it and turn it clockwise to disable water flow to the entire property. If you do not know where it is, check utility closets on the property, check along the wall outside of the property, and check any basement if one exists.
Use rags, buckets and fans to start the clean-up process
If water has spilled in a way that could cause damage, you may also want to try to contain the damage as you wait for help to arrive. You can use buckets to capture water, rags to soak up water, and then move the water into a place where it won’t cause damage, such as outdoors in a dry area with no drainage problems.
If the issue is indoors, use fans and open windows to help evaporate water. You can use heaters if you think it will help, but be careful to keep electrical cords away from water to avoid safety problems with electrocution risks.
If you have more advanced plumbing repair needs, talk to an expert
If you’re facing a more complicated repair project, it’s important that you work with a well-qualified plumbing repair expert like our team at Performance Plumbing. Choosing a handyman or an unlicensed freelancer is usually not as safe of a choice compared to working with our fully licensed and insured professionals.
When your plumbing issue is more complicated than a leaky pipe, it’s important to also talk through the problem with the plumber to make sure they know how to fix the issue and to ensure they’ve done similar repair jobs in the past, to ensure you won’t be wasting your time.
Finally, it’s helpful to request a free estimate of costs before any work begins. At Performance Plumbing, we’re always happy to provide a free quote up front, so get in touch with us via email or phone to get started with your plumbing repairs.