Plumbing Emergency? No Need to Panic

Emergency problems with your home’s plumbing system can still occur, regardless of how much you maintain the drains and pipes. The only way to resolve plumbing emergencies is to call for immediate professional help while you do quick temporary repairs.

The primary goal in plumbing emergencies is to stop the further leakage of water into your home. This may be accomplished by closing the shut-off valve of the main line. This will be easier if your supply comes from municipal water, because the water meter and the main valve are usually near or adjacent to one another. If this is the case, look for the water meter first, which is usually located along the edge of your property or near the street. 

Along these areas, there will be a metal lid, similar to a small manhole cover labeled as “water meter.” Once you opened this hatch, you will see a rotating valve underneath the water meter. Use a pipe wrench to turn this clockwise until the water supply to your home is completely shut off.

It doesn’t stop there, though, especially if the source comes from a separate fixture. All plumbing fixtures, sinks, toilets, and water heaters have their own shut-off valves, which you need to turn off while you wait for professional help. After finding the valves, use a wrench to close them or if it proves difficult at first, use household spray oil to loosen it up.