Top 6 Emergency Plumbing Services You Need Now
From 24/7 plumbing repair for burst pipes to multiple clogged drain solutions and immediate leak response, these are some of the emergency plumbing services offered by an experienced and reliable Lehigh Valley plumber. You can also count on them to provide urgent water heater fixes, sewer repair or replacement, and help with wastewater backups.
All those services can help prevent or minimize the costly effects of water damage, a problem so common it affects 14,000 people in the U.S. every day, per real estate brokerage company RubyHome. Along with freezing, water damage accounts for almost 30% of home insurance claims in the nation.
Understanding plumbing emergency services (and knowing the signs that you need them) can help you stay on top of your plumbing system's health and keep it from causing significant damage to your home.
What Is a Plumbing Emergency?
A plumbing emergency is any problem that can:
Cause property damage
Pose health risks
Prevent the use of essential plumbing functions and utilities
From burst pipes to overflowing toilets, gas leaks, and multiple clogged pipes and drains, these are all types of plumbing emergencies that you, as a Lehigh Valley resident, may experience.
How Long Does It Take to Get an Emergency Plumber?
Plumbers offering 24/7 support typically respond within one to two hours of receiving and accepting service calls. Local providers may have quicker responses, as they can reach your house in Lehigh Valley, PA, faster than those based outside of the region.
However, other factors may influence the time it takes for you to get an emergency plumber, including the time of day. They may have a quicker response during "off-peak" hours (e.g., after typical business hours), as there's less traffic.
What Are Common Emergency Plumbing Services?
Emergency plumbing services are within-the-hour or same-day solutions to the emergencies mentioned previously. Here's an overview of six of the most common.
1. Plumbing Repair for Burst Pipes
Pipes often burst after they freeze, which can happen when the temperature of water flowing through them drops to 32°F or lower. Per the Pennsylvania State University, when water freezes, it expands, with its volume increasing by about 9%. The expansion causes not just a blockage within but also extra pressure as the water flow becomes restricted and pushes against the insides of the affected pipe.
Fortunately, a reliable Lehigh Valley plumber can provide emergency pipe repair for frozen or burst pipes.
2. Multiple Clogged Drain Solutions
An emergency plumber is often necessary for multiple clogged drains, as these problems typically indicate severe blockages or issues with a home's drainage system. They can also be a warning sign of an impending sewage backup.
3. Immediate Leak Response
When no one else is "using" water at home, yet you still hear sounds of rushing water or notice a sudden drop in water pressure, take this as a plumbing warning sign. Chances are, you've got a hidden leaking or burst pipe somewhere on your property. A Lehigh Valley plumbing expert offering 24/7 services can help you track (and fix!) the problematic pipe with advanced leak detection technologies.
4. Urgent Water Heater Repair
You may need urgent or emergency repairs for your water heater if:
The tank has a significant water leak
You have a gas-powered system, and it emits noticeably strong odors
Your system is experiencing a severe malfunction (e.g., a complete and sudden loss of hot water)
If you experience any of the above symptoms, please turn off your heater's power source before calling an emergency plumber.
5. Sewer Repair or Replacement
Are you dealing with multiple clogged drains, highly unpleasant odors, sewage backups, and wet, malodorous spots in your lawn? If so, your sewer line may have:
Developed a severe blockage
Suffered from significant tree root intrusion
Caved in or collapsed
In this case, you need emergency sewer repair or replacement services.
6. Addressing Wastewater Backups
Wastewater backups don't just smell foul; they can also pose significant health risks. After all, they comprise dirty, used water from bathroom and kitchen drains. According to a study published in ScienceDirect, wastewater contains dangerous chemicals and disease-causing microorganisms called pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, and parasites.
If you experience this problem, call a professional plumber right away for emergency wastewater backup solutions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do Wastewater Backups Occur?
Wastewater or sewage backups occur when a blockage restricts the flow of wastewater out of your property. It can be due to a frozen or burst drain pipe, a severe sewer line clog, or tree roots infiltrating the sewer line. Either way, wastewater can go back into your home and flow out of your drains.
What Is the Most Expensive Plumbing Issue?
There are several, including extensive water damage from burst pipes or sewage backups. It can be especially costly to address these issues if they have progressed to involve structural decay and mold growth. Replacing a sewer line or repairing one that has caved in can also cost you a pretty penny.
What Clogs Pipes the Most?
Some of the most common culprits behind clogged drains are FOG (fats, oils, and grease) and so-called "flushable" items (e.g., flushable wipes). Hair, soap scum, coffee grounds, large food particles, and foreign objects are also typical causes.
You should never pour the above objects down the drain or flush them in the toilet. Instead, you and everyone else in your household should place them in the appropriate trash receptacles. Be sure to put fats, oils, and grease in containers with secure, tight-fitting lids before throwing them to prevent potential leakage.
Which Plumbing Problems Don't Require Emergency Services?
Not all plumbing problems require emergency services, especially if they're only minor and are not a significant health concern. Examples include a single slow drain or toilet, a slow-leaking faucet, and a slight decrease in water pressure.
Get the Immediate Plumbing Help You Need
Whether you need help with a burst pipe, a severely leaking water tank, or multiple drain clogs, know that you can rely on high-quality emergency plumbing services from Tim Beil Plumbing.
Established in 1967, our family-owned business has many decades of experience and expertise in the plumbing needs and woes of Lehigh Valley residents. Rest assured that our technicians arrive on time and provide transparent pricing.
Contact us now if you need plumbing help, and we'll come to your rescue ASAP!
