All homeowners have plumbing emergencies at one point or another. But the question is, when do you know if a certain problem requires the services of a 24-hour emergency plumber? At times, you can put off certain emergencies in the dead of the night that are worth twice or thrice the normal rate the next day when regular services and rate applies.
For instance, consider this scenario. You wake up in the dead of the night upon hearing what appears to be running water. You are thinking of a sprinkler. However, it sounds too close. You trace the sound and its coming from your bathroom. You get in, and your socks end up getting soaked. Now, how will you respond?
Turn off the Water Source
Your first response is to turn off the water source to protect the rest of your home from further damage. If the water is coming out of a fixture, perhaps your faucet or toilet, shut off the water supply heading to that fixture. If you are not sure of the source or do not know how to turn it off, just turn off the entire water supply in your home to be sure.
Can You Put it Off?
Evaluate the urgency of the problem prior to making any calls. If you have an overflowing toilet in your midst, turn off the water to stop the damage and put off the repair by not flushing the toilet for as long as you can. All localized issues can be put off until the morning by simply turning off the water source in that specific area. For instance, utilize the sink in your kitchen if the one in your bathroom is clogged. By waiting it out until the morning or when regular working hours resume, you can avoid paying for an emergency service in the dead of the night or on a holiday or a Sunday.
Contact the Water Company
Not all the time, all water repairs are your personal responsibility. If the issue concerns the main water line, a break in the service, a sewer clog, or other sewer-related issues, contact your water company first. At times, some water companies provide 24-hour emergency plumber and services in response to urgent and pressing problems. Call them first to know what their coverage is and to schedule any repairs within their jurisdiction.
The Phone Call
If you have a pressing issue in your midst, and it cannot wait until the morning, calling a 24-hour emergency plumber is your best recourse.
Try to identify and isolate the issue and determine what is working and what doesn’t. If you have an overflowing toilet, inspect other home fixtures to determine if they are having issues as well. Make a list of the questions you are going to ask the plumber before making that call.
* Contact several plumbers. Obtain several estimates prior to scheduling a service call. You want to hire the best one with the most reasonable price.
* Specify your problem. By giving the plumbers as many details about the problem that you can, he can give you a much closer estimate of how much the repair will cost you.
* Ask for the service calls estimate. Plumbers charge extra for coming over to your home. it is better to know how much it will be way ahead of time.
* Ask for the repairs cost. Most plumbers do not issue an estimate over the phone, but you may somehow get an idea of how much it will be. Give the plumber a clear picture of the problem (for instance a blocked toilet) and ask how much a repair will cost you.
* Try to speak to the plumber yourself. If it is an answering machine, leave a message for the plumber to call you back so youll have a better idea of the cost.
