Are You Ready for a Plumbing Emergency?
Don’t let a plumbing emergency send extra money down the drain or throw a wrench in your plans. Having an emergency plumbing kit on hand can help you minimize damage or give you a little extra time before the plumber arrives.
Our plumbers in Orcutt have seen some creative “solutions” to plumbing problems. But the easiest way to deal with an issue is to have a few things on hand just in case.
Start with a Bucket
A simple household bucket should be at the top of your list. It can be used to catch drips from leaks, collect water from a section of pipe you’re removing, and keep the rest of your emergency plumbing supplies all in one place.
Gloves are Very Handy
Gloves can keep your hands from slipping on wet surfaces and protect you from germs and messy situations. We recommend disposable nitrile gloves for a strong, tactile solution. It’s good to have several pairs in your kit, since they don’t get reused.
Be Ready to Take the Plunge
All plungers are not created equal. A regular basic plunger is nice for sinks, but toilet clogs clear more easily with either a flange plunger or an accordion plunger. Having the right tool for each situation is not only more effective, it also minimizes pathogen transfer between one fixture and the other.
Have This Small Assortment of Tools
No home plumbing kit is complete without a pipe wrench, an adjustable wrench, a pair of mid-size slip-joint pliers, and a multi-bit screwdriver. Also, if any of your faucet kits came with a specialized removal tool or allen wrenches, keep those in your plumbing emergency bucket where you’ll have them if you need them. Your local Orcutt hardware store should have a nice variety of tools to choose from.
Putty is Your Buddy
Plumber’s putty is used to create a watertight seal in a variety of situations. Keep some with your other supplies, and familiarize yourself with its use before you need it!
Keep Two Types of Tape
Thread seal tape, often called plumber’s tape, seals threaded joints on metal or plastic pipes during new assembly or reassembly. Duct tape can be useful in situations where something needs to be held together temporarily, just make sure the surfaces are dry before use.
Shed Some Light on the Problem
Remember to grab your flashlight on the way to investigate a plumbing problem. Most are in dark places such as under cabinets or in a crawlspace.
Be Ready for Clean-up
Any project involving water or wastewater can get messy real quick. Keep a mop, pile of rags or old towels, paper towels, and plastic bags nearby so you don’t have to collect them mid-emergency.
Know This for the Future
It’s a good idea to make sure you and other members of your household know where your home’s water shutoff valve is, in case you have a major leak or malfunction.
Your plumbing emergency kit should prepare you to make small repairs yourself or minimize damage before a plumbing technician reaches your Orcutt home. If your plumbing woes require the pros, local plumbers can be reached by calling the Griffin Plumbing team at (805) 934-1949. For non-emergency visits, you can also request an appointment online.
