Plumbing emergencies can arise at any time. If you are not expecting them, they can catch you off guard. The best way to prepare for a plumbing emergency is to learn about the most common types of emergency that can arise. Here are a few of the situations that you are most likely to encounter.

1. Blocked Toilet 

One of the most urgent — and disgusting — plumbing problems that you are likely to face is a blocked toilet. The cause of this emergency is a clog somewhere in the toilet or the pipes that take waste away from it. When you flush the toilet, the level of the water rises and does not go down.

You can try to use a toilet plunger to dislodge the blockage and allow the water to drain back down to the normal level. If this technique does not work, then you should call an emergency plumber. Do not keep flushing the toilet while you wait for it to be fixed, as this will only cause the level of water inside the bowl to rise higher until it overflows onto the floor.

2. Burst Pipe

Burst pipes occur most often in winter when the water inside the pipes can freeze, leading to increased pressure on the joints of the pipe. This can cause them to fail. If you have a frozen pipe, you should try to thaw it out gently, using a hairdryer or hot towels, to prevent it from bursting. If the pipe has already burst, turn off the water and call an emergency plumber to replace the burst section of pipe.

3. Sewer Backup

If the main sewer line leading from your home develops a blockage, then you are likely to experience multiple plumbing problems. The toilet will gurgle, sinks and showers will drain very slowly and there is likely to be a bad smell. Fixing a sewer backup is always a job for a professional, so be sure to call an emergency plumber as soon as you encounter this situation.

4. Broken Water Heater

A water heater that stops working can leave you unable to bathe or wash dishes. If you use a water-based central heating system to heat your home, you could soon start to shiver, too. Contact an emergency plumber to find out what is wrong with your water heater and if it can be repaired or needs to be replaced.

Contact an emergency plumber for more information.