What Are the Most Common Plumbing Emergencies?

There’s never a good time for a plumbing emergency, especially in a big city like Toronto where time stands still for no one. If you require an emergency plumbing, be sure to call a professional. While there are plenty of DIY home upgrade hacks, tending to a plumbing emergency on your own could create a larger problem.

Brothers Plumbing has been serving Toronto for over 50 years and we’ve seen our share of emergency plumbing. To help our clients better understand what dictates a plumbing emergency vs. a general plumbing concern, we’ve compiled a list of the most common emergencies we face regularly.

Clogged Sinks, Tubs, and Toilets

There’s only so much help a plunger can lend to a clogged situation. Depending on the depth of the clog and the substance causing it, a clog can be quite an emergency.

Kitchen Sinks

Kitchen sink clogs usually occur due to food particles, grease, and oil being washed down the drain. This causes blockages at the drain level and further down the pipes. Eventually, the water stops draining or backs up. Not only is this inconvenient, but it could be detrimental to other plumbing in your home.

Bathtubs and Showers

Tubs and showers become clogged for reasons unrelated to food. Usually, hair and soap buildup creates a blockage in the drain. These are easily removed, but require the use of special tools. Brothers Plumbing recommends you to never put anything down the drain of your tub or shower to unblock a drain, as the object could become lodged inside or scratch or crack the pipes.

Toilets

The dreaded clogged toilet happens to us all. If a few gentle pushes of the plunger won’t dislodge the problem, then your plumber can rectify the situation. Again, we don’t suggest trying to put anything down into your toilet, and we also warn against the use of drain-clearing chemical solutions that are harsh on plumbing.

A Lack of Hot Water

Like water pressure, the heat of your water is affected by the ability of the hot water to flow from its source. Therefore, if there’s a cracked pipe or a leak in your hot water tank, you could wait forever for your shower to get hot with no result. This has various negative effects, such as:

• Increased water bill
• Wasted hot water
• A mess wherever the leak is emptying
• Low water pressure
• Cold showers

Finding the source of the hot water shortage is the first step in solving this plumbing emergency. Fortunately, Brothers Plumbing is well-versed in leaks and how to fix them.

Washing Machine Floods

In most cases, where there’s a flood, there’s a leak. Your washing machine uses hoses to transport clean water from the house to the machine and dirty water from the machine to the sink basin. When one of these hoses become damaged or dislodged, leaking occurs.

Washing machine floods cause damage to floors, clothing, storage, and more. At the first sign of a leaky hose, be sure to contact your plumber for a replacement, or head over to the local hardware store to see if you can replace it for yourself.

Annoying Leaking Faucets

If you hear an annoying drip, drip, drip sound, then it’s likely due to a leak. Leaks occur in many areas of the home, including faucets. A leaky faucet is more than an annoyance; it causes problems with water pressure and increases your water bill.

Your faucet may leak for a variety of reasons, including a loose component in your plumbing, or an issue with the handle for your sink or tub. A plumber can easily diagnose the situation and rectify the leak.

Sewer Problems

If you notice bad odours emanating from your drains, then it could be something as simple as a blockage. However, sometimes foul smells are a symptom of a sewer backup. This, along with bubbling or gurgling toilets and basement drain overflows, are signs to call a plumber.

Sewer issues are never pretty. Water backing up from the sewer could fill your tub, toilets, and sinks, making it impossible to shower, wash dishes, or running water. As soon as you notice a potential sewer problem, call a plumber.

Frozen Water Pipes

Canada has some cold winters, and here in Toronto, we’re not immune to it. Frozen pipes are a big problem during the cold months, especially if you’re away from home and water isn’t being used regularly. When pipes freeze, there’s always a chance they could burst. An experienced plumber service will help defrost the pipes carefully and safely.

Some people wait for pipes to defrost on their own. This is possible, but consider the chances of this happening during the winter. If temperatures remain low, then your pipes will remain frozen and even if the weather changes, they could take days to thaw.

Water Line Breakages

Sometimes, a water emergency has nothing to do with your home, but rather the environment in which you live. Overgrown tree roots and construction mishaps sometimes cause broken water lines. If you notice low water pressure, flooding around your home, or in your basement, it could be due to a broken water line.

Treating a broken water line is the kind of plumbing emergency that absolutely requires a professional. The issue could be further from your property than you realize and could be dangerous if any ungrounded electrical currents are nearby.

Contact Brothers Plumbing for Plumbing Emergencies in Toronto

Brothers Plumbing aren’t your average plumbers. With decades of experience behind us, our team has been serving Toronto for more than 50 years with pride. We specialize in:

• Plumbing
• Water heating
• Power flushing
• Drains
• Drain cleaning
• Mainline backwater valves
• Waterproofing
• Lead pipe replacement
• Renovation services
• CVPP
• Emergency services
• Commercial plumbing

The Brothers Plumbing difference is seen in our thorough inspections, quality work, and customer service. While many Toronto companies reflect the hustle and bustle of the city, we believe that our friends and neighbours deserve careful consideration during each project. We work hard, fast, and affordable to ensure that your plumbing is up to code and running seamlessly.

For more information on Brothers Plumbing or emergency plumbing in Toronto, call us at 1-800-741-8471, or contact us here.