Chandigarh Traffic Police Plumbers – Emergency Plumbing Repairs & Drain Cleaning

A home plumbing system is prone to several problems. Before calling your emergency plumber, it’s important to know how you can do some plumbing repairs yourself.

If the tips below fail to fix the plumbing issue, or you’re not confident about DIY emergency plumbing repairs, then call an emergency plumber for professional assistance.

1. Clogged Toilets

Clogged toilets demand urgent fixing. They should be treated as an emergency plumbing issue.

You should never flush objects that shouldn’t be flushed down a toilet. Doing so will clog your toilet. Nevertheless, here’s how to unclog a blocked toilet:

Step 1

In case the toilet bowl is already full, use a small container to empty it halfway. In case it’s empty, add water to the bowl until it’s halfway full.

Step 2

Place a working toilet plunger on the toilet drain opening and plunge it repeatedly until the stagnant water drains smoothly.

Step 3

In case the plunger appears to be ineffective despite repeated attempts to unblock the toilet, try using an auger.

Push the auger through the toiled drain until it hits the clog. Rotate the auger until it the clog gets broken up.

Step 4

In case the auger fails to unblock the toilet, it means the clog is quite deep and can only be unclogged by a professional emergency plumber.

 

2. Blocked Kitchen Drainage

Kitchen drain lines are prone to frequent blockage. They dispose of dirty water and oils from the dishwasher and sink. They also drain food remains from your garbage disposal.

Cooking oil and large food remains may clog the kitchen drain pipe. You can unblock the kitchen drain using these tips:

Step 1

First, remove the sink strainer. Next, put a plunger on the drain opening. Open the sink faucet and allow water to fill the sink halfway or at least cover the cup of the plunger. Plunge the sink repeatedly until water drains smoothly.

Step 2

In case the plunger fails to work, try a drain snake.

Step 3

In case the sink fails to drain after try to unblock it with a drain snake, it means that the blockage is stuck deep down the drain.

In this case, contact a reliable emergency plumber to unblock the drain. Failure to have it fixed may cause raw sewer to back up in your kitchen.

Remember to avoid health hazards by only using a kitchen snake or plunger for the kitchen drain and the toilet plunger or snake for unblocking the toilet.

Kitchen plungers resemble the shape of one half of a ball. On the other hand, toilet plungers resemble a deformed ball and have a large opening at the bottom.

 

3.  Lacking Hot Water

Typically, hot water tanks are supplied with cold water and heat the water with an electric or gas heater unit. The tank keeps water at the set temperature.

In case the hot water faucet fails to supply hot water, then it means your hot water system has a problem. A faulty relief valve or thermostat can allow pressure and heat to rise.

Excessive pressure and heat can cause an explosion. Thus, you should be extremely careful when dealing with a faulty water heater. Here’s how to examine it:

• Check whether other hot water faucets are supplying hot water or the problem is with one faucet. If the issue is with one faucet, check whether its supply pipe is broken. You may be interested in reading “Home Plumbing: 6 Practices Your Pipes Will Appreciate“. If the issue is coming from all hot water faucets, then the problem is with the water heater.
• In case the problem appears to be with your water heater, touch the tank carefully. In case it’s hot, then it’s functioning, else, it’s malfunctioning. In case the water heater is powered by gas, check whether the pilot lights are lit. If not, follow the instructions of the manufacturer to light them back on. If the water heater is electric-powered, check whether the fuse or circuit breaker is working. Replace any malfunctioning components or have a professional plumber fix the water heater for you.

 

4. Leaky Faucets

Leaky kitchen or bathroom faucets are a common plumbing issue in most homes. You should know the type of the leaking faucet to fix it the right way.

For instance, a ball or cartridge faucet comes with a single lever for cold and hot water. On the other hand, compression faucets come with two levers, which are lifted when turning them on.

Reversed compression faucets come with faucets handlers that are lowered when turning them on. When repairing a leaky ball or cartridge faucet, shut off its water supply.

Remove the handle by opening it with an Allen type of wrench. Replace the cartridge and fix the handle back in place.

In case a plumbing appliance or pipe starts leaking, don’t keep waiting for your plumber. If it’s a major leakage or a burst, water may flow everywhere and cause a flood.

While most people think they’re quick responders to emergency situations, gushing water is not something easy to deal with.

Before we get to the teleporting age, it’s good to learn how to avoid plumbing problems from causing major damages to your home while waiting for a professional plumber.

Read on to learn some quick and easy DIY fixes and tricks shared by an emergency plumber.

You can try to minimize water damage before your plumber arrives. While these solutions may sound basic, they can save you a lot of money.

Leaking Pipe

Regardless of how small some pipe leaks might be, you wouldn’t want the water to flood your home. If you allow leaks to remain unattended, small problems can turn out more serious than you’d think.

Luckily, there are several plumbing tools specially designed to assist in fixing plumbing leaks to avoid a disaster.

Regardless of the tool you’ll choose, the first thing you should do is turning off your home’s main shutoff valve. Then measure the circumference of the leaking pipe.

Once done, visit your nearest hardware center and buy epoxy compound for iron pipes. For other pipes, buy a pipe wrap or clamp. The epoxy should be applied directly to the leaking area.

Epoxy putty creates a temporary seal over a leakage. Wraps and clamps are even easier to use. You simply wrap or affix them around a leaking area. They can stop the leakage until you replace the pipe.

However, remember these solutions are temporary. Although they’ll give you an effective, quick fix, the foolproof method of eliminating a leakage permanently is replacing the leaking pipe with a new one.

Leaks on Pipe Joints

It’s quite tricky to fix leaks on pipe joints. They’re more challenging to fix than those on a normal pipeline. Joints usually bend at an angle, making most quick fixes ineffective.

Some fixes might even look awkward on pipe joints. Luckily, there are a few tools that are specially designed for fixing leaks on pipe joints. For instance, pipe connectors made of rubber and repair sleeves are flexible and can be easily wrapped around leaking joints.

The rubber connectors should be cut to be more effective. Thus, it’s necessary to take measurements of the pipe circumference. The connecter usually resists water when wrapped tightly around the leaking joint.

However, its effectiveness is only temporary. Repair sleeves usually work best on smaller leaks since they apply pressure on the leaking area when clamped tightly.

However, the small leak can widen with time beneath the sleeve. You can supplement these options using duct tape. However, duct tape is also a temporary fix.

Cracked Porcelain

Showers, bathtubs, toilets, and sinks may crack or even break accidentally. These plumbing appliances contain water all the time. Thus, you can easily panic in case your toilet tank cracks and floods the floor.

When such plumbing appliances crack, you should act quickly to avoid the leaking water from damaging your floor.

Plumber’s putty is a great solution for fixing leaks in plumbing appliances made of porcelain. You’ll simply apply putty on the inner side of the leaking area. Make sure you squeeze the putty snugly onto the leaking area.

Putty resists water and will prevent the leak for some time. Also, apply some more caulk on the exterior part of the leak to act as a secondary sealant.

Applying putty on the interior surface of the leak and caulking the exterior surface of the leak makes the fix last longer. However, both putty and caulk won’t last forever. The permanent solution is replacing the cracked appliance.

A Malfunctioning Water Heater

In case your water heating system is malfunctioning, the problem might be accumulation of sediment in the hot water tank. The sediment blocks the heater.

The heater will waste power and time when attempting to heat the water through the accumulated sediment. The heater gets strained and it’ll take longer to heat the water.

While you may have to replace the water heater, you can make it last longer by flushing the tank. The first thing you should do is turning off the power to the heater.

Next, run the hot water for around 10 minutes. Doing so will drain the hot water tank. Then turn off the water supply to the tank. Once done, attach a hose onto the tank’s drain valve. Direct the hose to a drain.

Next, turn on the water supply to the tank. Allow the valve to continue draining water from the tank through the hose until it stops looking discolored. Once the draining water looks clear, then it means that the sediment has cleared.

Whether your plumbing issue is significant or minor, it should be fixed soonest possible. If you allow a problem to remain unattended for long, it might lead to more damages and hence more expensive to fix.

Upon fixing your plumbing problem temporary, contact an expert plumber for a quick, effective, and permanent solution.

They usually have the required expertise to fix all types of plumbing problems. Thus, you’ll rest assured of the problem being fixed once and for all.

In as much as homeowners would want to assume the essence of home plumbing and its maintenance, care need to be given priority beating in mind that at any one time there is a leakage, it will cause havoc to the entire house.

The leak will cause molds, which are not healthy for humans. As such, why not take an Easter break, and take some of these precautions as instructed by your able plumber:

• • Look for any holes

Whenever pipes have holes, they may leak on a mild basis to the extent that they cause flooding in the house. To prevent this unpleasant experience. Check for any leaks in the basements, garage, or the kitchen walls. Have them repaired as soon as possible. In case you find any holes, get in touch with the plumber who will support to control the same.

• • Drain and protect

Draining and protecting all the pipes and faucets in your plumbing system will play a vital role, especially when winter is approaching. As soon as winter starts, water may freeze inside the pipes which would expand and break in the long run. Ensuring that the pipes are well insulated will, therefore, help reduce high costs incurred during repair should there be cracks.

• • Look for areas that have exposed plumbing

More often than not, confirm if the weatherproof trouble areas are well secured. The doors and windows and any other opening should remain well sealed. Seal any broken windows. We can prevent the aftermath of substantial unwanted repair costs can.

• • Insulate uncovered pipes

Contrary to closing the wind current around your residence, confirm that the pipes are well insulated such that even during the winter times, there will be no chances of cracking. An electric warming tape can do well for the pipes as this will ensure that the pipes will remain warm all through.

• • Ensure that your indoor pipes remain warm

Many people tend to forget about their indoor pipes and concentrate more on the outdoor pipes. Little is it remembered that indoor pipes also need proper care and maintenance during winter and freezing is also a possible option.

When you are away for some time, set your thermostat to remain at 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the temperature does not go below 30 degrees Fahrenheit as this could lead to bursting of the pipes and cause unwanted damages.

• Register for a home plumbing and Maintenance program

A program maintenance program is an important program to sign up. For once, it will help give the first aid in case of any leaks before you get into contact with your plumber. You may also in the cause of learning to become a professional plumber that would support your wellbeing in terms of income as you offer support to your neighborhood for a small fee.

Signing up for the program will also give you an eye of thinking what next if a massive leakage occurs, what support can you offer to the society in case the entire estate is in a problem, for instance, if freezing was so heavy that it had affected all houses. Think of how far this can offer to the community.