Georgia Emergency Plumber

There are many plumbing problems that can be considered emergencies. For the homeowner that can't get hot water or the toilets that just won't flush.

While you may want a plumber to show up ASAP, keep in mind that not all plumbing companies offer emergency service. For that reason, it's a good idea to already have a reliable plumber you can trust ahead of time before the emergency happens.

Better yet, have your plumbing system periodically checked and maintained to avoid problems. Even with the best efforts, plumbing emergencies can happen and here are a few examples.

Winter is the peak season for plumbing emergencies in the Atlanta, Georgia area, with the most common plumbing problem being frozen or burst water pipes.

Damage to your plumbing means water is likely leaking out of the cracks, and must be fixed before it causes more expensive problems.

If you hear the sound of excessive water dripping where it shouldn't be, there's a good chance your plumbing may have been damaged somehow, and you should call a licensed plumber as soon as possible.

STOP THAT LEAK! Don't Let These Plumbing Problems Get Out of Hand!

Complications from Damaged Plumbing

If left alone, damaged plumbing causes bigger problems. Here are some examples of complications that could arise from damaged plumbing:

• Water damage As water seeps into your walls and floors, it can cause them to become more brittle. Over time, this will result in structural weakness. The damaged area may give way as soon as you put any weight on it. Repairing a damaged floor is an expensive task, often costing anywhere between a few hundred to several thousand dollars, depending on how widespread the damage is, whether the damage affected any load-bearing beams and how much work needs to be done.
• Black mold Black mold is a dangerous type of mold that thrives in moisture-rich places, including any water-damaged structures. This type of mold can make you extremely sick, and must be professionally removed before you can resell the house in most states, which means more expenses.
• Wood rot Water can damage the wooden beams supporting your house as easily as it can the walls and floors. Typically, it will cost even more to replace a load-bearing beam, as extra care must be taken to make sure it can support the structure of your house. A rotten load-bearing beam may spell disaster for your house.

Types of Emergenices to Watch Out For

Although all plumbing problems should be taken care of to ensure the problem doesn't become worse, some require more urgent attention than others. Here is a list of the biggest plumbing emergencies. If you experience any of these problems, contact a professional licensed plumber immediately.

• Frozen pipes If you have frozen pipes, turn off your water at the source, as running water can burst a frozen pipe. A burst pipe can cause other problems.
• Sewage backups This is the worst plumbing problem you can possibly have simply because of the dangers involved. Sewage backups are unsightly, cause severe water damage that is difficult and expensive to repair, and pose a dangerous health risk. The decaying sewage releases toxic Hydrogen Sulfide gas, and the sewage itself contains dangerous bacteria such as E.Coli and Salmonella that can cause serious diseases. Symptoms can include anything from abdominal cramps and vomiting to severe infections that can cause organ failure and death.
• Broken water pipes Usually caused by frozen pipes that have burst, broken water pipes will continue to leak large amounts of water. To prevent the problem from turning into expensive home repairs, you should call your water company to have your water turned off at the source if you believe you have broken water pipes.
• Leaking water heaters A leaking water heater is a potentially dangerous risk. Most of the time, you can escape any real damage (as long as you don't keep family keepsakes near your water heater, which I wouldn't recommend doing.) A more costly failure is when the water heater spews water at very high pressures, which can cause damage to drywall and eventually spread into your house, destroying your walls and floors and turning your house into an electrical hazard. The most dangerous failures, though rare, can happen when safety features fail and heat and pressure builds up within the tank. Eventually, this type of failure can cause the tank to either explode or turn into a rocket and fly through your roof. In either case, you will have costly home repairs on your hands - if your house can even be salvaged in a cost-effective manner. That's a pretty big "if" in some cases.

Conclusion

We discussed some potential plumbing emergencies you can come across as a homeowner. Again, if you encounter any of the issues discussed above, it is imperative that you contact a professional plumber immediately, and get the problem fixed before it becomes an expensive problem. Remember, prevention is always cheaper than the cure. We hope you have a safe, problem-free Winter.