Every plumbing emergency can escalate extremely quickly so the work done in the first few minutes of an emergency is critical to limiting any damage.
A Burst Pipe
Turn off the main stopcock as quickly as possible. This is usually found under the kitchen sink or where the main pipes enter the house. Open up the cold taps to allow water to drain from the pipes. Use your towels, clothes or a large bucket to catch any water that continues to leak from the pipes until help arrives.
An Overflowing Toilet
Locate the isolator valve on the pipe entering the bottom or back of the toilet pan and turn clockwise to shut off the supply of water. If you cannot find the valve, you can switch off the stopcock. Do not attempt to flush the toilet until the blockage has been cleared.
A Sudden Drop in Boiler Pressure could be costly. For Emergency Plumber Cheltenham, see www.hprservicesltd.com/emergency-plumber-cheltenham.
Check the boiler pressure using the pressure gauge on the front of the unit. If the pressure has dropped below one bar then re-pressurising the boiler is often straightforward by using the filling loop. This is usually a short flexible hose connecting two valves usually found at the bottom of the boiler. Please refer to the boiler manufacturer’s manual for instructions on re-pressurising the boiler. If the pressure drops again quickly it is wise to seek assistance from a qualified plumber.
A Blocked or Slow Drain
When trying to clear a blocked drain it is recommended to start by pouring a kettle full of hot water down the drain, followed by using a plunger. If however water starts to come back up towards the floor via the clogged drain, cease use of that drain until the blockage has been cleared to try and avoid a larger overflow.
A Leaking Radiator Valve
Turn the radiator off by closing the radiator valve at the towel under the valve and use your hands to fully close the valve by turning the valve head clockwise.
