Common Problems that Call for an Emergency Plumber

There’s never a good time for a plumbing emergency. They happen at the worst of times and when we least expect them. Most of the time, they occur unexpectedly and without any prior warning. While we can’t always prevent them, we can often take preventive measures to ensure we never need to call an emergency plumber.

If you want to avoid needing to call an emergency plumber on the Gold Coast, continue reading this article. Below, I have outlined the most common problems that call for an emergency plumber, and I’ve included the preventative measures you can take to ensure you don’t face the same problem.

Blocked toilets

A blocked toilet is one of the most common plumbing issues that require an emergency plumber, and unfortunately, it’s the one we most urgently need to be fixed—particularly if there is only one toilet in the home.

Thankfully, prevention is very easy and only takes a little common sense. To avoid having a blocked toilet, don’t flush anything but TP down the toilet—this means no wet wipes, paper towels, or female hygiene products. Also, go easy on the amount of toilet paper you use per flush!

Blocked or broken sewage or water pipe

I must admit, even as a plumber, I’ve had my own plumbing emergency due to a broken sewage pipe. So, it can happen to anyone, even plumbers. In my case, it was a result of excavation work that was being done at my home. Unfortunately, the excavator’s weight broke the pipe below, causing raw sewage to emerge. Gross, right? This incident turned out to be a fortunate discovery, as it revealed a significant issue with my sewage pipe: a crack filled with approximately 6 metres of tree roots. Had this happened at a different time, I would have had to dig up all the new landscaping to replace the piece of broken pipe.

The lesson here is that excavation, extreme weight, and tree roots can all cause underground sewage pipes to break and become blocked.

To avoid damaging sewage pipes when excavating, you can purchase a copy of an existing draining plan from the council. While you cannot prevent a tree root from cracking and inhabiting a sewage pipe, you can perform a drain inspection to identify such problems before they escalate into an emergency. Give Local Plumbing & Gas Co. a call today on 1800 562 251.

For more information on blocked sewers, I recommend you read this guide.

Hot water problem

Although we can live without hot water, no one wants a cold shower. Even one cold shower is one too many. Many problems can cause a hot water system to fail, and they differ depending on the type, whether it’s an electrical, gas, heat pump, or solar system. The system itself might simply be too old, or it might be experiencing issues with the thermostat or sediment build-up. You can often catch a hot water system before it fails by regularly inspecting it. If you see water coming out of the tank, hear noises coming from the tank, or see rusty water coming from the tank or your taps, there is a good chance your system is about to bust. Avoid the need for an emergency plumber by having a plumber inspect your system and, if necessary be, repair or replace it before a total failure occurs.

For more information on emergency hot water system repairs, I recommend you read this guide.

Conclusion

As you can see from the list above, no plumbing emergency is enjoyable. The most common problems that call for an emergency plumber include a blocked toilet, a blocked and broken sewage pipe, a burst water pipe, and hot water system problems. The good news is that these emergency plumbing problems can often be avoided with a few simple preventative measures.

To avoid a blocked toilet, only flush toilet paper down the toilet, and don’t use excessive amounts. To avoid a broken water or sewage pipe, be cautious when digging new holes around the yard and have your pipes inspected annually. Lastly, to avoid problems with your hot water system, inspect your system regularly for leaks, rusty water, or noises; any of these are signs that your system is about to fail.

Whether you need an emergency plumber on the Gold Coast or want to avoid needing one, Local Plumbing & Gas Co. can help. We have state-of-the-art equipment, including CCTV cameras, infrared cameras, and high-pressure water jetters, that can inspect and help prevent emergency plumbing problems, such as those mentioned in this article, before they occur.

Call us on 1800 562 251 to see how we can help.