What to Do During a Plumbing Emergency

Summary:

• Plumbing emergencies can strike fear into the hearts of homeowners, especially when they happen without notice. Knowing what to do in a crisis can help.
• Shut off your master water valve, water heater, and electricity. Then, check for local outages and reach out to a plumber for help.
• If flooding exceeds the height of outlets, sewage backs up into the home, or you smell gas, take any pets and leave the property. Otherwise, it’s usually safe to try and salvage your belongings and clear the area of clutter.
• Some plumbing emergencies, like leaks and garbage disposal problems, are more common than others. Knowing how to prevent and spot these issues can save you time, stress, and money.
• The holidays are the busiest time of year for plumbers. Prevent the most common issues that prompt calls by keeping harmful foods out of sinks and drains.

We’ve all been there—it’s late at night, you’re rushing out the door, or the house is packed with holiday guests. That’s when it happens: a pipe bursts, the sink backs up, or the toilets stop flushing. In an instant, your day goes from manageable to a complete disaster.

Don’t let plumbing emergencies like these catch you by surprise. Stay calm and call Caccia Plumbing at (650) 442-1470, then learn how to take action in this step-by-step guide.

Related: What to Do When You Discover a Leak

Step 1: Turn Off the Water

How much water can leak into your home in a 30-minute period? According to restoration experts, a single ¾ pipe can release up to 110 gallons per minute. That’s about the same volume as a rain barrel—more than enough to cause serious damage to your home!

How to Shut Off Your Master Valve

Every homeowner should know where the main valve to the water is in their home. In California, they’re usually located near your service line on the outside of the building or in one of these seven other locations:

• In basements
• In crawl spaces
• Along exterior walls
• Next to a well
• Next to a water heater
• Next to a pressure tank
• Under the kitchen sink

If your master shutoff valve has a wheel, turn it counter-clockwise to shut the water off. If it has a straight handle, turn it a quarter-turn clockwise until the water stops. Don’t turn the water back on until you speak to a plumber.

Step 2: Shut Off Your Water Heater

The moment you turn off the main valve to your water, pressure starts to build up in your hot water tank. Over time, this pressure can cause the tank to burst. Knowing how to turn your hot water tank off can help prevent issues like these before they happen.

How To Shut Off Your Hot Water Tank:

• For gas appliances, turn the thermostat on your tank or system to “off.” Or, close the gas supply valve.
• For electric appliances, turn off the breaker labeled “water heater” in your electrical panel.

Don’t turn your water heater back on until the supply of water is restored. This is especially important for electric units, as running them dry can burn out the heating element.

Step 3: Check for Local Outages

If you suddenly lose water, your water is severely discolored, or sewage is starting to back up into your drains, there may be an outage or problem near your property. You can check for known issues by reaching out to local utility providers.

How to Check for Local Outages:

• Check Cal Water’s outage page for info.
• Ask your neighbors if they’re having issues.
• Call Cal Water’s San Mateo office at (650) 343-1808.
• Contact Public Works at (650) 522-7300

You can also call us directly at (650) 442-1470. Plumbing is the nature of our business, so we’re often the first to know about serious issues like water main breaks in the local area.

Note: If your property relies on a private well and/or you have a septic tank, issues with local lines or providers won’t affect you. Skip this step and move on.

Step 4: Assess The Problem

You stayed calm, turned off the water, shut off your hot water heater, and confirmed there are no local outages. Next, do a quick assessment to see if you can identify the root of the problem and gather information for the plumber.

How to Identify Plumbing Problems

• Inspect your plumbing for visible leaks, broken pipes, or damaged fixtures. 
• Check individual fixtures to see if the issue is isolated to one area, like a sink. Learn more about what causes a faucet to leak.
• Check your water pressure to see if it’s very low, very high, or inconsistent. See 10 reasons for low water pressure and how to fix it.
• Look for signs of a clog in toilets, sinks, showers, and other drains. Learn how to unclog a slow drain here.
• Check all plumbing for cracks, leaks, and other signs of an issue.

Make a note of what you find, but don’t spend an excessive amount of time exploring your plumbing. The goal here is to get help faster.

Note: If waste is backing up, you smell gas, or you have major flooding, contain any pets and leave your home right away. Don’t go back inside until an expert confirms it’s safe to return.

Step 5: Call a Plumber

The next step is to contact a licensed plumber for help. We strongly recommend researching your options well in advance of an emergency. Rushing to select a provider at the last minute may leave you at the mercy of a company who prioritizes getting paid over doing a good job.

Call Caccia Plumbing first!

How to Find the Right Contractor

• Ask about licensing. All plumbers in California must be licensed. If they can’t show you their license, walk away.
• Look for experience. The more years they’ve been in business, the better. Plumbers with a proven track record are more reliable and consistent.
• Ask about insurance. A reputable plumber will always have liability and worker’s compensation coverage.
• Read reviews. Take online reviews with a grain of salt, but look for patterns. A consistent history of negative reviews is a red flag.
• Ask for recommendations. Ask friends and family to tell you who they trust or refer you to their plumber directly.
• Get a quote. Look for plumbers who are willing to provide an estimate upfront, even in emergencies. If the scope changes, they should let you know right away.
• Ask about warranties. Most professional plumbers will offer a limited warranty on their work. If they don’t do the job right, they should be willing to come back and fix it.
• Ask about emergency services. Some plumbers don’t offer their services on holidays or weekends. At Caccia Plumbing, we have your back 24/7.

Resist the urge to try and save money with rushed DIY fixes. These often leave homeowners struggling with more serious damage later on down the line. Working with a licensed expert ensures that the work is done properly and your system is up to code.

Step 6: Take These Practical Steps While You Wait

If it’s still safe to be in your home, it’s okay to focus on practical safety and saving your belongings while you wait for a plumber. You may be able to rescue some or all of your belongings if you move quickly after you call.

What to Do While you Wait for a Plumber

• Turn off the main breaker in your electrical panel to avoid shocks. You should only do this if the area around your electrical panel is still dry.
• Move any belongings to another location, like a higher floor—or put them on top of appliances and furniture.
• Move electronics, like TVs and stereos, to another room or out into your yard. This may spare them from flooding damage before the water can spread.
• Clear the work area of rugs, mats, boxes, and other clutter. This will help the plumber get to the root of the problem faster when they arrive.
• Try to contain the water. Use buckets, towels, or old blankets to soak up standing water. A wet/dry vac can also help, but only if it’s safe to leave the electricity on.

If you have any reason to suspect that staying inside your home isn’t safe, skip these steps and exit the building until a plumber tells you it’s okay to enter. It’s tough to watch a flood happen without taking action, but your life and the safety of your loved ones come first.

Related: Plumbing Tips for First-Time Homeowners

The Most Common Plumbing Emergencies

You can’t always control when or how a plumbing emergency happens, but that doesn’t mean the situation is completely out of your hands. Learning to spot early warning signs can save time, money, and stress.

*For the slow drains drain-safe cleaner click here for a recipe

In all of the above examples, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Keeping your plumbing in tip-top shape with regular inspections and maintenance will reduce your risk of expensive issues, like flooding or sewage leaks, before they happen.

Related: How to Get Ahead of Plumbing Disasters During the Holidays

Preventing & Treating Holiday Plumbing Emergencies

Somehow, plumbing emergencies always seem to strike when you have a house full of guests. Everything that could go wrong somehow seems to: toilets back up, your water heater stops working, drains clog, garbage disposals break down, and faucets start leaking.

You may be tempted to think your plumbing is plotting against you, but there’s no Grinch hiding in the shadows here. Instead, it’s usually a result of increased demand on your system or holiday foods going down the wrong drain.

How to Prevent Garbage Disposal Problems

Problems with the garbage disposal inspire more calls to a plumber over the holidays than any other part of the system. When there are too many cooks in the kitchen, your risk for clogs, jams, or motor burnout increases exponentially. It’s really common for well-meaning guests to accidentally let harmful FOGs and fibrous foods go down the sink.

Holiday Foods That Can Break Your Garbage Disposal

• Pieces of turkey
• Corn husks
• FOGs
• Bone fragments
• Potato skins
• Eggshells
• Silverware
• Aluminum foil
• Fruit pits

It’s also important not to overload your garbage disposal. Even safe items can slow down the mechanism if they’re put through in high quantities. Make sure any guests understand how to use the disposal if they’re spending time in the kitchen.

Related: How to Prepare your Drains for the Holiday Season

Call Caccia Plumbing for Help With Plumbing Emergencies

Calling Caccia Plumbing is the best way to treat or prevent plumbing emergencies like leaks, backups, and floods. For fast help in San Mateo, Burlingame, and most surrounding areas in San Francisco Bay, call our after-hours, holiday, and emergency line at (650) 442-1470.

We strongly recommend having one of our licensed experts inspect your plumbing, appliances, and electricity at least once per year, even if you aren’t having any issues. It’s the best way to prevent a minor problem from growing into a more expensive disaster later on down the line. Send us a message to schedule a service call.

Frequently Asked Questions About Plumbing Emergencies

Can Caccia Plumbing help with flooding during flash floods?

Yes—but it’s important to note that we can’t enter your home until any standing evacuation orders are in place. This is also true during wildfires, earthquakes, and other natural disasters. Once it’s safe to return, we can help with:

• Water removal
• Septic tank repairs
• Slow or clogged drains
• Sump pump repair
• Sewage backups
• Damage to pipes
• Damage to wiring 

We can also recommend and install preventive measures, such as sump pumps and backflow preventers, to help protect your home before a storm strikes. For help environment-proofing your home, call us at (650) 442-1470.

What are the warning signs of a water heater emergency?

A total loss of hot water, leaks around the unit, or smoke coming from nearby can all be a sign that your water heater is about to fail. If you’re experiencing symptoms like these now, turn your water heater off and call us.

Other less urgent indicators include:

• Running out of hot water often
• Water that doesn’t get hot
• Sediment coming from your hot water only
• Loud hissing, clanking, or banging from the system

This isn’t the kind of problem you can fix on your own, even if you feel confident around plumbing. This can expose you to serious electrical shocks or gas line explosions.

What should I do if my basement floods?

If your basement floods, prioritize your own safety first. Don’t enter the basement or any areas of your home where water levels are high enough to reach electric outlets—this can result in serious electric shocks. Take any pets and people outside.

Once you’re safe, call Caccia Plumbing at (650) 442-1470. We can help you find the source of the water safely and remove it from your home.

How can I tell if I have a leak?

The most obvious symptom is water dripping or pouring from pipes, appliances, and other fixtures. If you notice leaks like these, turn your master water valve off and call us at  (650) 442-1470 right away.

You may not be able to detect more subtle leaks without special equipment. At Caccia Plumbing, we use special equipment like heat scanners and acoustic listening devices to find leaks before they turn into major disasters.

If you have any reason to suspect a leak, Call Caccia Plumbing for service. 

Is a clogged toilet always an emergency?

No, not always. You may be able to clear mild clogs at home on your own without calling us. Try gently plunging the toilet with a standard household plunger a few times. If that doesn’t work, you can try using a little bit more pressure.

If sewage starts backing up into your home, or the bowl overflows, stop plunging immediately. Call us at (650) 442-1470 for emergency service.

It’s also important to point out that frequent clogs are a red flag that something is wrong with your plumbing. Partial clogs may temporarily clear until they solidify enough to totally blog your system. Send us a message to schedule a service call.