What to Do Before Calling an Emergency Plumber on A Holiday

Are you afraid of needing an emergency plumber? A plumbing emergency can happen to anyone, but it’s especially a nightmare during the holidays. What could be worse than having a burst pipe, clogged drains or an overflowing toilet when you have family or houseguests visiting from out of town? Not much. 

It is no mystery that 24-hour plumbing services are quite costly, but that may be the least of your problems. When you are confronted with a plumbing catastrophe in the middle of the holiday season, chances are that most local emergency plumbers might be busier than usual and unable to get there until the next day. Here are some steps you can take to mitigate the damage until an emergency plumber can save your holiday. 

What to Do Before You Call an Emergency Plumber This Holiday

1. Turn The Water OFF!

This may seem like a no brainer to some, but you’d be surprised. Turning the water supply off is key to mitigating further damage. If you notice that the water is flowing from a fixture under the sink, toilet or faucet, there are shut off valves located under the sinks and on the underside of your toilet. If you are unable to locate those valves, you’ll have to locate the shut off valve for the entire house. It is important to know where these shut off valves are in the event of an emergency. If you have a family, make sure they are educated on where these valves are located and how to properly turn them to the off position.

2. Avoid Paying a Premium by Diagnosing the Problem

Some plumbing emergencies, while inconvenient, may be able to wait until the morning or next day. This may save you money for the emergency plumbing service, since it is pricier than scheduling a plumbing service call for the following day. For overflowing toilets, clogged sinks, leaky faucets, shutting the water off should do the trick until a licensed plumber can come to your property to fix the problem.

3. Don’t Wait For Frozen Pipes To Thaw

It’s not always easy to know if your pipes are frozen, but it’s important. If you think your pipes are frozen, either by loss of water pressure or no water pressure at all, it’s time to call a local plumber. You might think that you can handle the problem yourself or wait for them to thaw on their own, when in reality this could lead to very costly problems should they burst! Skip any DIY attempts at fixing the issue and contact an emergency plumber immediately so no further damage is done. 

4. If Raw Sewage Is Involved

This is absolutely the time to call an emergency plumber. Raw sewage is extremely toxic. If raw sewage is backing up into your home, you should call a 24/7 plumber no matter what time of the day or night it occurs. The cleanup process should be handled by a professional as well. 

Pro Tips Before Calling an Emergency Plumbing Company 

Call Around

Have Details Written Down

Know the Service Call Is a Separate Fee

If you have an emergency plumbing situation and have already come to the conclusion that you need help now, know what you should do before settling on a 24/7 plumbing company. 

Call Around – It’s always good to get multiple quotes and not go with the first emergency plumbing service you contact. Get a quote before agreeing to them coming out for a service call. Remember that every emergency plumber will be expensive, but you should still get quotes, as the range in prices could be significant.  

Have Details Written Down – Make sure you accurately can describe your problem to the service agent on the phone. The more details you have, the easier it will be to give you an accurate quote over the phone. 

​​The Service Call Is a Separate Fee – During normal business hours you may be able to have a plumber come out for a free service call, but that isn’t the case with emergency plumbing services. They will charge you extra for coming out during off-hours. Make sure to ask the agent how much they charge for just the service call alone. 

Contact Sky Heating For Emergency Plumbing Services

We are experienced at installing geothermal heat pumps in every climate. With a heat pump, you can create temperature control zones in your home, each individually controlled, and easily switch between heating and cooling. If you’re ready to benefit from greater energy efficiency, comfort, and long-term savings, get in touch online or call (503) 694-4587 today. Ask about our special offers, financing, and maintenance plans as well.