When you have a plumbing situation on your hands, the first thing you will need to do is to stop the flow of water to the area. If the problem is with one appliance or tap, look for the shutoff valve near it. If this isn’t the case, use the main shutoff valve for the entire house. If the main valve itself is broken, call your water company to shut it off at the street level before the water has a chance to reach the valve.
With a leaking pipe shut off the water flow to prevent further damage. Make temporary repairs as needed, and plan to have the pipe replaced as soon as possible. For a clogged sink, shut off the faucet and/or the dishwasher, use a snake or plunger to get rid of the clog, and don’t ever use a drain cleaner if the pipe is totally blocked.
If you have a faucet that won’t quit, turn the water off at the fixture or main shutoff valve, and repair or replace the faucet itself. If your faucet is too hot to touch, open all the hot water taps to relieve the pressure on the hot water heater. Turn off the fuel or power to the heater, and run the water until it is cold. Then, call a plumber to fix the heater and any other problems.
Sun, Oct 11, 2009
Plumbing Info