Would you agree that plumbing issues can vary significantly in terms of both severity and urgency? While we always encourage homeowners and facility managers to avoid procrastinating on plumbing repairs, the importance of this is heightened when discussing something that would be classified as a “plumbing emergency.” After all, the longer you let these types of problems sit, the more expensive the repair will end up being.
For any first-time visitors of our blog, welcome to Stine-Nichols Plumbing. Based out of North Kansas City, MO, our team of experienced plumbers has years of experience working on a wide range of plumbing projects. Whether that be cleaning a drain at a commercial facility, installing a water heater at a residential house or even a new construction project, our team provides plumbing services throughout the Kansas City area. As the introduction briefly mentioned, this week’s blog post is going to talk about why it’s so important to have a plumber you can rely on in the event of an emergency popping up! These types of situations don’t allow for a lot of time to waste and will often require immediate attention.
Do you live in the Kansas City area? If so, do you have a go-to plumber that you can call when a plumbing emergency strikes? If you don’t have someone you can count on, then we would love to have the opportunity to earn your trust! Give us a call at (816) 348-3481 and we would be happy to share more information about the various services we offer.
Types of Plumbing Emergencies
As I mentioned in the opening paragraph, plumbing problems can differ in terms of urgency. Having said that, some of them, like a running toilet, certainly don’t require repair right away. On the other hand, there are plenty of other plumbing issues where homeowners or facility managers will want a professional plumber on-site in a hurry. So…to kick off this blog post, we’ll discuss a few examples of these “plumbing emergencies.”
Hot Water Heater Stops Working – While you can technically get by for a day or two without hot water, I think many homeowners would prefer to have hot water when they hop in the shower or wash the dishes, right? With that in mind, if you notice an absence of hot water, you’ll certainly want a local plumber that not only provides professional water heater installations, but also can get you fit into their schedule in a timely manner.
Piping Issues – Unsurprisingly, pipes are an extremely important component of any building’s plumbing system. Water lines, drain lines and sewer lines all serve key purposes on a daily basis. When one of these pipes cracks, it can cause some serious damage in a hurry and will be the perfect example of something you’ll want fixed ASAP. It’s also worthwhile to mention that there are a number of things that can lead to these piping issues. For example, even though we’re into the spring season now, I’m sure you’re aware of the troubles coming from frozen pipes bursting in the cold weather months. In addition, it’s also possible for pipes to experience issues due to an inadequate original installation or even the piping simply failing from old age. Nonetheless, whenever there’s a break in a plumbing pipe, damage can follow instantly.
Sump Pump Failure – One example of a situation that I’m pretty sure just about every homeowner would call an emergency would have to be a flooded basement. One of your best friends in limiting the potential damage from a flooded basement will be a sump pump. Well…when you have a heavy rainfall and start to experience some flooding in your basement, you’re going to want to make sure the sump pump is functioning properly and that’s not always the case. Fortunately, it’s fairly easy to test your sump pump from time-to-time! By the way, if you don’t already have a battery back-up for your sump pump, that is something else worth looking into too! All in all, a sump pump is another example of a key component in your home’s plumbing system and if it were to fail when needed, you could soon be facing a plumbing emergency.
Commercial Facilities – When it comes to commercial plumbing situations, you may notice a slight difference in the levels of urgency. The main reason behind this is how it can impact employees or customers. If the water heater goes out at a restaurant, it’s not hard to see how that could cause some instant issues for the daily operations. Likewise, when there’s an issue with a sink or toilet at a retail store, office building or any other commercial facility, that would also be something you would want fixed sooner rather than later! The longer it sits unfixed, it can potentially lead to disgruntled customers or employees!
What Qualities to Look For
As you can likely guess, most of the qualities that you’ll want to look for when hiring an emergency plumber are similar to those that you’ll want for any other plumbing project. Nonetheless, as we wrap up this week’s blog post, I wanted to feature a few characteristics that will ensure your plumber selection won’t add any more stress to an already stressful situation.
Response Time – Without a doubt, the biggest thing you’ll want to look for in an emergency plumber is responsiveness. Especially if you’ve never experienced a plumbing emergency before, it can be a little scary when it occurs! So, when you have something like a pipe break, you want someone you can reach on the phone right away and describe what you’re experiencing. If needed, they can likely provide you with some tips before they’re able to get someone out there.
Referrals – Do you have any friends or family members that have recently had to hire a plumber? If so, referrals are generally a great way to find a reliable local plumbing company. While this doesn’t guarantee their responsiveness in the event of an after-hours emergency, it is a step in the right direction. To sum it up, if you know of someone that’s spoken highly of a local plumber, it wouldn’t hurt to jot the name down in the event that you ever needed someone!
Transparent Pricing – With any home services contractor that you hire, one factor that may affect your hiring decision will be the pricing. Would you agree with that? Having said that, when you’re calling around to see which local plumbers are available, make sure to inquire about pricing. In some of these situations, the plumber may be able to make a repair to get you up and running before providing an estimate for any necessary replacements needed after the fact.
Emergency Plumbing Services in Kansas City
Here at Stine-Nichols Plumbing, our team understands that plumbing problems often require immediate attention. There’s a reason why we often stress the importance of acting quickly when a plumbing issue arises. It’s largely a direct result of the fact that the longer these issues sit unresolved, they will likely continue to get worse! As a side note, it’s also worth noting how important it is for occupants of your household to know where the main water shut off valve is. This can help immensely in limiting the overall damage of plumbing emergencies and also allow you to have a little extra time before the plumber arrives!
No matter if it’s a routine plumbing job or an emergency situation, our team is always here to lend a hand! To learn more and speak with a member of our team, you’re welcome to give us a call at (816) 348-3481 or fill out the form HERE. We look forward to working with you!