Trust me, no one wants to deal with the result of when the pipes fail. Burst pipes, leaky drains, and floods can ruin your day real quick. Taking some sensible precautions can help you respond fast and safely if mayhem does strike the pipes in your home.
Our team of experienced plumbers put together these handy tips for emergency preparedness so your next plumbing catastrophe can be solved swiftly and safely. Here are our top tips to follow for plumbing safety precautions.
1. Know Your Home’s Layout
Our first plumbing safety tip is to take some time to familiarize yourself with your home’s plumbing. All homes should have a safety valve in-home plumbing protection plan. Locate the main water shut-off valve and make sure it actually works. Nothing is worse than frantically twisting a faulty valve when facing a flood.
Similarly, know where the shut-offs are for toilets, sinks, washing machines, and other appliances. Also, pinpoint shut-offs for sinks, toilets, the washing machine, and wherever else uses water. A good mental map of all your home’s pipes and parts will help you act fast when leaks occur.
2. Assemble a Plumbing Toolkit
Gather the go-to supplies for plumbing SOS and keep them in one spot. It is super handy to have things like pliers, pipe wrenches, flashlights, buckets, towels, duct tape, multi-tools, work gloves, and safety goggles on standby.
You might also want to gather spare parts like washers for leaky faucets or other unexpected incidents. Replenish anything used or worn so you don’t unwisely put it off and regret it later.
3. Have Info Handy
Another helpful plumbing safety precaution is to have information readily available. Print out key contacts to keep handy or save them on your phone so they are available even during a power outage.
Save or print out critical numbers to call when in serious plumbing strife. This means the plumbers you trust most, your family members or friends to lend a hand or place to stay if needed, the property manager if renting, etcetera. With excellent local plumbers already lined up, you won’t lose time scouring reviews when faced with a pipe predicament.
4. Know When to Call the Pros
While effective DIY repairs can stop minor leaks and restore toilet operation, more serious plumbing issues often require professional expertise. Burst supply lines, sewer gas leaks, basement flooding, and appliance malfunctions may reflect complex underlying problems.
Attempting makeshift fixes could make issues worse or pose safety risks from mold, contaminated water, raw sewage, or accidental electrocution. Calling trained plumbers helps contain damage and resolve problems properly.
5. Invest in Preventative Maintenance
If you want to avoid a heap of disasters, get annual maintenance done so a professional plumber can catch major problems early. Inspecting all pipes, fixtures, vents, and drains spots corrosion, hidden leaks, or other red flags before they spiral into insane damage or major expenses down the line.
Plus, we get familiar with your plumbing systems in better times, so we can swoop in like the cavalry when issues arise during an emergency.
6. Stay Safe With Proper Gear
If tackling any plumbing repairs yourself, be sure to wear appropriate protective plumbing safety equipment. Wear durable gloves, non-slip boots, goggles, and long sleeves. That guards against contamination and injury from mold, chemicals, and sharp debris.
Goggles keep caustic drain cleaners or pressurized water leaks from injuring eyes. Waterproof boots, long sleeves, face masks, and headlamps also boost safety for DIYers. Proper PPE gives you the confidence to respond appropriately when plumbing emergencies hit your household.
Plumbing Safety Precautions: FAQs
What are the hazards of plumbing?
The hazards of plumbing include electrical shock, scalding and chemical burns, mold and water damage, contaminated water, and gas leaks. Plumbing issues can also strain your wallet if ignored.
What is proper PPE for plumbing?
Proper plumbing PPE includes heavy-duty boots, gloves, plumbing safety goggles, long sleeves, and masks to protect against damage from mold, chemicals, bodily waste, and sharp metal debris.
For what issues should I call a pro?
Depending on your plumbing safety topic, you should call a professional plumber for gas leaks, sewage backups, appliance malfunctions, burst pipes, basement floods, no hot water issues, sewer gas leaks, and collapsed drains. These complex situations often carry hazards amateurs are ill-equipped to handle safely.
Should I invest in preventative plumbing maintenance?
Yes! Annual checkups spot hidden leaks, loose pipes, and corrosion, allowing plumbers to repair issues before major disasters strike.
Preventative maintenance reduces the chances of water damage, mold risks, system failures, and more. Think of it as insurance against plumbing catastrophes.
Final Thoughts
Let’s be real – plumbing issues are no fun at all. But prepping those emergency contacts, getting the right gear, and following these plumbing safety precautions make riding out a plumbing fail way less painful. And our plumbers always have your back if things go sideways.
Beach Plumbing can help you prevent any plumbing disasters. Contact Beach Plumbing today.