If you are experiencing a plumbing emergency, the best solution is always to call a professional plumber. That’s why at All City Plumbing, we are open seven days a week and offer same-day appointments in order to provide emergency plumbing services as soon as possible. However, if you are dealing with a sudden plumbing leak, there are also several steps you should take to prevent the problem from getting worse. Learn how to stop emergency plumbing leaks and mitigate water damage here, courtesy of our experienced Rancho Cucamonga plumbers.
Steps to Take to Stop an Emergency Plumbing Leak
- Turn Off Your Water Fixture: If your plumbing leak is coming from an overflowing toilet or broken faucet, you should be able to find these devices’ shut off valves to stop the leak at its source. First, you will have to locate the isolation valve, also known as the angle stop, which is usually located on the wall, usually behind the appliance or under your sink. Turn the valve clockwise as far as it will go, until the flow of leaking water stops. It is worth noting that for shower leaks, you will have to cut off your entire water supply to stop the flow of water. This brings us to our next point…
- Shut Off Your Home’s Water Supply: If you find that water is leaking not out of your fixtures and appliances but coming from your walls or ceiling, chances are you may be dealing with a more serious problem, like a burst pipe. The safest way to stop the flow of water in this case is just to turn off your water supply altogether. To do this, you will need to find the shut off valve to your house. Usually, this component is located outside, near where you would hook up a garden hose. This valve should have a lever on it, indicating the ball valve. Turn the lever all the way clockwise, then turn on an outside spigot. If no water comes out, your home’s water supply should be shut off.
- Cut Off All Water Coming to Your Property: In cases where the above solution does not work, and water still keeps leaking into your home, you will want to call the city to have them shut off your water meter. While you may be able to find the water meter yourself on the curb in front of your house, this is technically municipal property, so it’s usually better to let a government official and/or a licensed plumber deal with this.
Remember, after you have taken initial precautions, make sure to call All City Plumbing for emergency service right away! Just dial (909) 552-7550, or click here to send us a message online.