If your sink takes a while to drain or your pipes make some noise as you flush the toilet, you should, at some point, call a plumber. There are some plumbing problems, however, that can’t wait. Here are five plumbing issues that require immediate attention.

1. Frozen Pipes

If the temperatures in your area have fallen below zero, your pipes may have frozen. How can you tell? If you turn on your faucets and no water or very little water comes out, it’s more than likely that you have frozen pipes. The first thing you should do is turn off your water supply. Shutting off the water reduces any pressure in the pipes, and it will reduce any flooding if the pipes should burst. The next step is to call a plumber.

2. Burst Pipes

There are quite a few reasons a pipe may burst. There may have been a leak that gradually ripped the pipe open. Your pipes may have corroded and simply fallen apart due to years of wear and tear. Or, a clog may have caused water pressure to build up around the clog, eventually bursting the pipe.

If your pipe bursts, turn off your main water supply. This will reduce the amount of flooding in your home. Next, you’ll want to drain all of your faucets. Once you’ve done that, contact a plumber.

3. Gas Leak

A gas leak from one of your appliances is extremely dangerous. If you suspect you have a gas leak, make sure to open all windows and leave your home immediately. As soon as you’re in open air and away from your house, call the gas company to turn off the gas. If you suspect you know where the gas leak is coming from, call a plumber, too.

4. Overflowing Toilet

Your toilet may overflow due to a blocked drain or a clog in the main sewer line. You may also be experiencing a blocked vent pipe. Alternatively, you may have a broken toilet part, such as a damaged flapper.

The first thing you should do is stop water from flowing into the bowl. You can do this by turning off your water supply. Try to use a plunger to clear the clog, and clean up any water that has flooded around the toilet. If the plunger doesn’t fix the problem, contact a plumber. The problem may be deeper, and you’ll need a professional to inspect the problem further.

5. No Hot Water

Although not having hot water isn’t necessarily an emergency, it can be an emergency during the winter. Check to see what the temperature on your water heater is set to. Someone may have inadvertently changed it. You should also check to see if the circuit breaker was tripped. Take a look at the pilot light as well; it should be on. If there doesn’t seem to be any visible problem, then a plumber may need to flush your water heater tank.

If you have a plumbing problem that requires emergency plumbing services in Grand Forks, ND, contact Total Care Plumbing.