Solving Plumbing Emergencies

All homeowners know that if anything in the home can go wrong, it will happen at the most inconvenient time. Plumbing is no exception. At your sleepiest, busiest, most tired moment, the toilet begins to overflow and no amount of jiggling of the control handle stops the water from edging toward the wall-to-wall carpeting. Or it may be the sudden bursting of a pipe, or an out-of-control faucet. Such emergencies are inconvenient and can cause expensive damage if corrective action is not taken immediately. Being prepared for plumbing emergencies is as simple as 1-2-3. A few minutes of your time now could be insurance for future security, and trouble free performance of your water system.

Know Your Plumbing

Your plumbing system includes a series of emergency shutoff valves throughout the home. Find and identify them. Make a tour taking along a flashlight, adjustable wrench, and pliers. You should tag each shutoff valve, such as "kitchen sink hot", "kitchen sink cold", etc.

Kitchen Shutoff Valves

Below your kitchen sink you will probably find shutoff valves for both the hot and cold water. In some cases, the valves will be below the kitchen in the basement. Sometimes valves are installed both below the sink and also in the basement.

Bathroom Valves

Valves are provided for the lavatory, toilet, and bathtub. The lavatory valves usually are below the fixture for easy access. Tub valves can be in the basement or behind an access plate in back of the faucet controls behind the decorative cover. The toilet has a single cold-water valve normally installed below the water tank. If you have a hot water heating system, you will find a cold-water shutoff valve near the furnace. CAUTION: If you shut off the water to the hot water heating system, you must make sure the furnace does not run dry. (See Main Shutoff Valves.) Each radiator also has individual shutoff valves on one end of the unit. Just about all that's left, serviced by water, is the washing machine, the dishwasher, and the hot water heater. These, you will find, have shutoff valves conveniently located on or near the appliance.

Main Shutoff Valves

The water line coming in from the street is often connected to the water meter followed by a master shutoff valve for the entire home. Close this one valve and you will have shut off water throughout the house-- it's instant action for serious emergencies. If you need to shut off the water at the main valve make sure the hot water tank is turned down to pilot. If you have a hot water heating system you will also need to make sure the furnace has a sufficient supply of water. (This should be checked often.) Electric hot water tanks require special attention, and it is best to enlist the aid of a plumbing and heating professional. However, if the emergency calls for the main water system to be shut off, the electric water system must also be shut off. The electric can be shut off at the main electrical fuse box by either removing the fuse from the box or switching the breaker to an "off "position. (check and see if your breakers are labeled.) The electricity to the hot water tank should not be turned on until the water tank has been refilled with water--see the owner's manual that comes with the electric hot water heater.

Locate & Test Every Valve

You are ready for any water emergency when you know where the valves are located for all your faucets and appliances. Plan a family house tour with the husband, wife and older children. All should know what to do if water emergencies arise when they are alone in the house. Start with the main water line valve, which totally controls the flow of water in your home. Usually, it is in the basement on the pipeline coming through the wall on the street side of your house. Find the valve, be sure it operates freely, and apply the tag to the main water line. If it is especially hard to find, place a second tag in a more visible spot.. Continue the same procedure with the kitchen. Find the valves below the sink and test to see if they open and close easily. It is especially important to make this check because over a period of time a valve can become "frozen" if is has not been used for years. Usually a wrench applied to the control wheel will free up the valve. Do this carefully to avoid breaking the control head. If the control wheel just can't be moved, it is usually best ot have it serviced by your plumber. Until this is done, make a mental note to shut off the main water line valve if this section of your plumbing gives you trouble. After moving and freeing the valve, check for possible leaks around the stem. Minor leakage can be stopped by applying a wrench to the cap or packing nut. Here is a plumbing tip: when you open any valve, open it all the way then turn it back the other direction slightly. This will help prevent it from sticking in the open position. Finally, apply the tags "Hot Water" and "Cold Water " to the control valves. Continue the water tour-- the bathroom or bathrooms, hot water heating system, water heater, water softener-- every place in the home where water is used. Label all valves with the proper identification tags. To repeat, locating the main shutoff valve is especially important because when it is closed, it stops all water throughout the house in seconds. Be sure that everyone, including the children, know where this vital control is located.

Basic Emergency Tools

Here's all that is needed to make simple plumbing repairs: Wrenches: medium pipe wrench and an adjustable end wrench. Screwdrivers : in a range of sizes to fit faucets, valves and other parts of the system. Stem screws for faucet handles usually call for screwdrivers suitable for Phillips-type screws. Adjustable pliers. Rubber force cup or plunger (for drain and toilet stoppages). Cleanout auger ("snake"). Pipe joint compound: used when connecting threaded pipes. Plumber's putty: used for reseating the drain on sinks when leaks develop or when a new drain is installed.

Vacation Safeguards

Closing the main water shutoff valve before leaving for a vacation is recommended. Emergencies do arise when the house is unattended, and a periodic visit by a neighbor is of value. In winter months, a daily visit by a neighbor while you are gone is suggested. If the home is vacated for an extended period or a neighbor is not available, you can have your water system completely drained to prevent freezing. This should be done professionally by a qualified plumbing and heating expert. If the main water supply is turned off, the hot water tank and the furnace should be turned down. Both these appliances are equipped with pilot control valves (See "Main Shutoff Valves").

Water Stoppages, Dropped Objects

Drains may become clogged by objects dropped into them or by accumulated grease and other matter. If a ring, for example, is dropped in the kitchen sink and can't be retrieved, the fixture trap can be easily removed. Do not run water or try anything else. Below the sink drain, you will find a large, curved pipe called a "P-trap". The drained water runs into this trap and objects are literally "trapped" by the curve in the pipe. Put a pan below the pipe and loosen the two large nuts at either end. Adjustable pliers work very well for this task. Keep turning and the whole curved piece of pipe will drop off in you hands . Note the washers used, they go back when you reinstall the fixture trap. Rings and all sorts of solid objects stop in the trap and if not removed will obstruct the pipe.

There are four other ways to clean a pipe drain including the toilet:

1. Chemical Cleaners

To be effective, chemical cleaners should not be used in pipes completely stopped up, because they must be in direct contact with the stoppage. Rely on them for only minor stoppage and handle the material with extreme care, following the directions on the container. Keep them out of reach of children, because most of these products contain deadly lye.

2. Organic cleaners

These are natural, safe to use, drain maintenance products. They will not clear a standing drain stoppage but, used periodically, will keep your drain clean. The organic enzymes eat the dirt and bacteria off the walls of your drain piping. "Bio-Clean" is an example of an organic drain cleaner.

3. "Plumber's Friend"

This is an ordinary rubber force cup or plunger, which can be effective for minor obstructions.

4. "Snakes " and Augers

Long, flexible, steel cables that are commonly called "snakes", may be run down drainpipes to break up obstructions or to hook onto and pull out objects. Augers are make in various lengths and diameters and are available at our plumbing store. In severe cases, call your plumber, who has professional power-driven augers.

New Washerless Faucet

The faucets with washers have been largely made obsolete by modern Moen water controls with a uniquely designed cartridges in place of old-fashioned washers. Proven for over 25 years, the Moen self-adjusting cartridge is simply slipped into place. The result is a brand new faucet, because all wear takes place in the cartridge itself. If during the life of your Moen faucet, it is necessary to replace the
cartridge, detailed step-by step instructions are included with every replacement cartridge. Example: Before removing the old cartridge, shut off both hot and cold water supplies to faucet. If not shut off properly water damage or injury may result. Now you are ready to reassemble the faucet. Instructions for level handle faucets are slightly different. Therefore, be sure to follow the complete instructions included with your replacement cartridge.

Leaks in Tanks

Leaks in tanks such as water heaters are usually caused by corrosion. Sometimes, safety valves may fail to open and the excessive pressure will spring a leak. While a leak may occur at only one place in a tank wall, the wall may be corroded thin in other places. Therefore, any repair must be considered temporary, and the tank should be replaced as soon as possible.

Leaking Pipes

Small leaks in a pipe can often be repaired with a rubber patch and metal clamp or sleeve. This must be considered as an emergency repair job and should be followed by permanent repair as soon as possible. A leak at a threaded or soldered connection should be considered a major repair. A plumber should be called.

Toilet Problems

All toilets on the market these days are the 1.6 gallon variety. They are designed less water than their predecessor. There are problems that are associated with these toilets. It is important to remember that toilets are not trash baskets. 1.6 gallon toilets have a tendency to stop up. It is recommended that a rubber plunger be kept nearby. Remember, excessive toilet paper, Q-tips, and sanitary napkins will cause toilet blockages. Limit the toilet paper and never deposit
other items into a toilet.

Garbage Disposals

Properly used, this great invention should give you years of trouble-free service. A couple of things to remember are that they do not grind everything. For example, artichokes are never to be put down a disposal.