No one likes to think about an emergency with their plumbing system, and if you live in Atlanta, GA, you have access to services that can arrive on short notice, 24 hours a day to take care of the problem. But a sudden after-hours service call usually costs more than a regular service call, and before you pick up the phone you need to decide for yourself if the problem qualifies as an actual plumbing emergency or not. The moment you detect a problem, you should shut off water to your home using the master valve (whose location every family member should know). The next step is to determine whether you can wait on it until normal business hours, or call for an emergency plumbing service. The specifics vary from case to case, but a few simple question can help answer it for you.

CAN YOUR HOUSEHOLD FUNCTION NORMALLY WITH THE PROBLEM AS IS?

If the issue is a single non-functioning toilet or similarly localized problem, then you can probably simply stop using that appliance until qualified help can arrive. In a pinch, you can likely go two or three days without using it (provided, of course, that you have another toiler or similar duplicate fixture). If it interferes with basic functionality, however – if, say, it’s the only shower in the home and you won’t be able to clean yourself until it’s fixed – then an emergency call may be needed.

WILL YOUR HOME SUFFER ANY DAMAGE FROM A WAIT

Leaking water and other conditions have a tendency to harm more than just the plumbing system: damaging wooden struts inside your walls, for instance, or placing pressure in the system that can lead to further leaks and damage. If time is of the essence, then you may be able to save more money simply by calling in an emergency service.

For emergency calls and any other plumbing problems, give the team at Quick Action Plumbers a Call!