Most of us experience home or office plumbing problems at some point. But we are sometimes uncertain about when the call a plumber. Here are a few suggestions for the best times to contact a local plumbing company with questions or for help.

1. Emergencies.

If an emergency occurs, don’t wait. Call the plumbing company immediately. Although emergencies can be defined in various ways, most of us agree that water pouring from a pipe, a flooded floor, or huge water stains spreading across the ceiling, wall, or floor is a situation that should not be put on hold. In some cases the plumbing technician may be able to stop the spread of the problem immediately and then return for a permanent repair later.

2. Inconveniences.

If your water system is not working properly to the point of disturbing household activities such as bathing, laundry, or toilet use, it is probably best to call the plumbers without waiting too long. Obviously, the problem won’t fix itself, but if it’s the middle of the night or a weekend, emergency or after-hour fees may apply to make the bill higher. If you can wait a few hours or a day or two, you could save money on the repair cost. Don’t do so unless you know it is safe to wait.

3. Uncertainties.

When the home plumbing system does something unexpected, like fluctuating water pressure, you might be able to wait a day or so to see if the problem goes away. For example, the local water supply may be disturbed by excessive use for a huge fire or an ongoing drought. Similarly, if you are comfortable trying home remedies on a backed-up toilet or drain, you may want to try those before calling the plumbers. But if you have serious doubt about the nature of the problem or your ability to resolve it, a phone call to the experts is probably best.

4. Inspections.

Many homeowners schedule routine inspections and maintenance on major home systems like plumbing to prevent major problems and to keep the systems working effectively. A yearly inspection can be scheduled at your convenience and does not usually constitute an emergency. Check your calendar and call the company to set up a time for a checkup to ensure no problems are brewing in your plumbing system.

Our water supply is an essential part of daily life. If something goes wrong, it could pose serious problems for the occupants of a home or employees in an office. Regular checkups help to keep major problems from happening, while prompt service calls may prevent relatively minor issues from becoming expensive repairs. Visit Drain Rescue for additional information.