plumbing-emergency

Are you ready for Black Friday this year? Some people have a "battle plan" for shopping on the day after Thanksgiving. Even if you're staying home, you still have some preparing to do. 

While it might be the busiest time of year for retailers, it’s also the busiest time of years for many service related industries. Thanksgiving Day and the three-day Black Friday weekend are now considered the busiest time of the year for Plumbers and Plumbing Contractors by the National Plumbing Association.

Preventative plumbing maintenance is a great way to save time, money and inconvenience, but most customers have grown accustomed to only calling plumbers as a last resort or when the need arises. For most customers, the need arises most often about 7 days before and 3 days after Thanksgiving and Black Friday.

Thanksgiving, combined with the three-day Black Friday weekend has plumbers and plumbing contractors gearing up for some very long days filled with emergency after plumbing emergency. Large holiday meal preparation, massive cleanup efforts and an overabundance of leftover waste puts an enormous strain on kitchen drains, garbage disposals, etc…

Homes filled with holiday guests take a toll on household plumbing. More clothes to wash, more showers, more restroom visits and more flushed toilets can stretch any home’s plumbing, piping and drainage capacity to the limit. 

National statistics show Plumbers and Plumbing Contractors work a significant amount of over-time hours for the seven days before and three days after Thanksgiving and the Black Friday three day weekend. Warner Service knows that these kind of plumbing emergencies can take a real toll on your holiday celebrations, and so below are 5 tips to prepare for a potential Black Friday plumbing emergency:

  1. First, know where your house’s main shut-off valve is located. If you know where your water meter is, the main shut-off valve is usually located near it. If your house uses well water, the shut off is most likely located near the well-pump. Finding the shut-off valve should be the first thing you do when moving into a new house. And though in most plumbing emergencies shuting off the main valve won’t be necessary, it doesn’t hurt to arm yourself with the knowledge of its location.
  2. Similarly, knowing how to shut off the water supply to individual fixtures is also vital. Isolating the water to each item will not only stop the flow of water, but will also allow you to repair it, or wait for an expert to. Ideally, these valves should be inspected once a year, and turned from on to off to make sure they are in working order, in case of emergency.
  3. You should know how to fix a clogged or overflowing toilet, which is perhaps the most common problem in your home. When a toilet is approaching the point of overflow, turn the cold water on in a nearby sink or bathtub to hinder the toilet’s water use. From there, locate the shut off valve to the toilet that is usually located directly behind the toilet. With the water supply off, you’ll then be able to work on draining the toilet with a flange plunger without worrying about water flowing onto your floor.
  4. If you have a leaking faucet or toilet, its important to fix it before it drains your bank account. Dripping faucets can cost you hundreds of dollars a year if they are left as is. And fixing it could be as simple as replacing an o-ring, or taking it a part, cleaning it, and reassembling it (be sure to turn the water off beforehand). If you are unable to fix the faucet, simply turning off the valve and calling a plumber can also do the trick. Tip: a sink’s shut off valve is located under the vanity; a bathtub’s are usually located behind an access panel, and often will require you to shut off both hot and cold.
  5. If these tips don’t do the trick or the job turns into a bigger problem, be sure to have the contact information of a trusted and reliable plumber handy! Warner Service offers 24/7 emergency plumbing and HVAC repair services. If you need help this holida, contact Warner Service.

 

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