There may not be a homeowner 911 you can call when you need unexpected help, but this list will help you figure out exactly what to do
Common household plumbing problems or emergencies like broken pipes, clogged toilets, and HVAC failures can leave you scrambling to stop water damage or restore comfort quickly.
Plumbers charge $45 to $200 per hour and HVAC technicians charge $50 to $200 per hour, so quick DIY checks can help you avoid emergency rates.
You should turn off your home's main water shut-off valve when dealing with plumbing issues, but only if the leak isn't near electrical equipment or standing water.
Hiring a local emergency plumbing professional provides reliable support for broken pipes, clogged drains, and HVAC failures when quick fixes don't solve the problem.
Almost every homeowner will be faced with an unexpected home repair at some point. And while some of these repairs may be relatively minor, like replacing worn-out weather stripping on your front door, some can be downright urgent. Broken pipes, blown fuses, and stalled-out HVAC units can cause a homeowner’s fight or flight response to kick in.
Before you go running for the door (or maybe running for the phone to call Mom), you should check out these tips for dealing with some more common home repair emergencies.
The sound of running water where you don’t expect to hear it can be a terrifying one for homeowners. That’s because you can expect to pay a plumber an hourly rate of $45 to $200, and that’s before they even start to charge you for materials and supplies. However, sometimes handy homeowners can buy themselves a little time and slow down the flow of water until off-peak (aka non-emergency) pricing kicks in.
The first thing you should do when dealing with a plumbing issue is find the main shut-off valve and cut the water to your home. However, you should only attempt to reach this valve if your water issue isn’t taking place near any electrical equipment.
If you didn’t notice there was a water leak in your basement until there was already a foot of water, and you can’t remember whether or not there’s anything electrical that could be hiding beneath the surface, you should stop and call a local plumber immediately.
There are few things worse than going to turn on your AC during a hot day … and only hearing silence. If your heating or cooling unit has suddenly stopped working, turn off the device at the thermostat and check the power source. Sometimes a GFI outlet can flip, causing cooling units to stop running as they should (this fix is as easy as pushing the reset button on the outlet).
Also, a blown fuse in your electrical box can short out your system without warning (if you’re comfortable flipping the fuse back into its correct position you can try that to see if it works, or you can call in a local electrician to do it for you).
If those two quick checks don’t reveal the problem, your next call should be to a local HVAC specialist. You’ll likely end up paying $50 to $200 an hour for a technician to come out, but if your heat goes out during a snowstorm or your air is kaput during a heatwave, it’s a small price to pay for comfort and safety.
If your toilet is clogged, your first step should be to turn off the valve behind your toilet bowl to prevent any water from spilling over onto your bathroom floor. Next, try to use a plunger to force the water back down the toilet.
The force of the plunging action can be strong enough to remove less stubborn clogs. Bigger issues might require a drain snake. If the clog won’t budge, call in a plumber.
Unfortunately, when it comes to power outages, there’s often nothing you can do. If your power suddenly goes out you should call your electric company to make them aware of the outage.
Often, when there is power failure due to a storm or an accident, they will give you an estimated time for your power to be out. Sometimes though, they really don’t know—especially if there has been extensive storm damage. In the meantime, you can either opt to sit tight (which could be the best choice in the event of storms) or relocate somewhere else with electricity.
No matter what you decide, you should consider the contents of your refrigerator. Some cold foods have a limited shelf life once the power goes out. To keep your fridge cooler longer, avoid opening it unless absolutely necessary.
Positive experience. As previously stated, the replacement/repair could not be completed (no fault of the plumbing tech) b/c misinformation was rec?d by property management maintenance. Thanks to the plumbing tech for your efforts. Appreciate you!
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Benjamin Franklin PlumbingCole has been handling plumbing and general contracting for our four properties over the past three years, and he’s always done a great job. Most recently, he installed a sink and countertop in our retail store where none existed before, and it turned out exactly how we needed. He’s...
ANB Renovations LLCMatt is a consummate professional. The work turned out to be far more difficult than expected and rather than turn the job down, Matt rose to the occasion and completed a near impossible task. I can not recommend Greene's Plumbing Service more highly. On a scale of 1-5 I would give Matt a...
Greene's Plumbing ServiceInvolved an extensive bathroom remodel, including removing tub & installing walk in shower, new drywall, custome tile work to ceiling, plumbing, etc. Overall, job was done on time and on budget. Nick & his team were very professional and had high attention to detail. Quality was great. Highly...
Stamos Flooring and Remodeling LLCAwesome company. Had a jacuzzi tub taken out and replaced with huge walk in shower with partial glass enclosure. Onyx to the ceiling with a decorative border, moved plumbing and installed hand held shower, new ceiling, flooring, and paint. Replaced window with glass block. Everything was done...
Columbus Bath DesignThe initial quoted price from a walk-through seemed high, but we discussed that the quote represented worst case scenario (re-wiring to two floors) and we were excited about the opportunity to have the work done in a timely manner with closing for fire safety reasons, etc. When the job was...
Initially, I called the Service People to have a leaking garbage disposal replaced. I had purchased a special deal through Angie's List: $79 for $200-worth of plumbing services. <br /> When I went to schedule the work, the earliest date I could get through Angie's List was after the upcoming...
This company did a very good job on the brick wall and it looks just amazing. The staff was always professional and was practically OCD on how the bricks were stacked and how they were laid. Although it took longer than expected, I am willing to sacrifice time over perfection anyday. The...
My Handy Mate LLC Improvement & Remodeling<p>I am so glad we called Rotor-Rooter. I was hesitant to call them because we usually prefer to give business to local providers. But when we had sewage back up in our basement on a Saturday evening, I had a hard time getting a hold of someone, not to mention the high weekend/evening rate...
Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water CleanupFrom average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
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