March, 2019 - Blue Ribbon Plumbing

Plumbing emergencies happen all the time. But what’s really concerning is when these problems happen. Even with enough maintenance, there will come a time when you’ll have some plumbing problems. If you’re confident enough to go DIY, you can fix a lot of plumbing problems without calling in someone. However, if the problem happens in the middle of the night, it’s best to get the help of a plumber Myrtle Beach immediately. But if you find yourself in a pinch and can’t get anyone on the phone, here are some tips on how to handle a plumbing emergency:

Shut the main water valve immediately

The very first thing that you should do when you find out that there’s a huge leak (or even just minor leaks) is to turn off the water. This will let you have some time to clean up and inspect the affected areas. This goes especially for broken pipes where you don’t have any choice but to restrict water flow. Do make sure that everyone in your family knows where the shut off valve is to stop water from flooding the inside of your house and not waste any more water.

Check how urgent the situation is

Minor leaks won’t be much of an issue with some duct tape and a little elbow grease. However, with some major issues like busted pipes, it’s a bit more than most homeowners would like to handle themselves. Before you make any decisions, turn off the main valve and assess the situation. If you believe that you can patch up the problem and wait till morning, go ahead. If you think that it’s more serious, call an emergency plumber right away. This will save you more money and spare you from all the hassle.

Start making some calls

If you’ve figured out that the problem is more urgent than what you would have liked and decided to get some help, start making some calls. Hiring an emergency plumber can be a tad troublesome if you don’t have a long list of numbers to call. If you have the problem contained for the meantime, here are some tips when calling for an emergency plumber:
Call several phone numbers. If it’s an emergency, you should phone in quite a handful of numbers. Some plumbers might not answer, so it’s good to have a backup just in case.

Describe the problem as clearly as possible. Always do your best to explain the situation as detailed as possible so the plumber has an idea of how to address the situation.

Ask for a quote. When it comes down to it, emergency calls don’t come in cheap. It’s a matter of who offers the lowest price. This is rather subjective and would depend on your preference and capacity to pay.

Speak to the plumber directly. If you’re phoning a company, ask to get you in line with the actual plumber. They will be more knowledgeable and will get you through your plumbing Myrtle Beach woes much faster.

When you’re in a bind and your plumbing problem is realizing all your worst nightmares, do your best to stay calm, assess and contain the situation, and call for help. The best thing you could do to minimize damage caused by plumbing issues in the middle of the night is to call in an expert and have it fixed immediately.

Need help with some plumbing problems? Call Blue Ribbon Plumbing LLC today.

Blue Ribbon Plumbing LLC
4201 Carolina Exchange Drive Suite 202
Myrtle Beach, SC 29579
(843) 267-9733
https://www.blueribbonplumbingmb.com/

Serving all of Horry County including Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Little River, Murrells Inlet/Garden City, Surfside Beach, Carolina Forest/Forestbrook, Conway/Aynor

Plumbing doesn’t sound all too messy when it’s just the sink that you get to notice when you’re in your kitchen. However, have you ever imagined how things are like inside your drains and pipes? It’s definitely the stuff of nightmares that you wouldn’t want to deal with. It totally gives plumbing Myrtle Beach a whole new meaning. It’s not just food residue that goes down the drain and through the pipes. There’s a host of other things that could clog your plumbing. Here are some of the things that could clog your drains:

Rinds, fruit peels and the likes

Starting off the list are fruit rinds. You’ve probably, at some point, tried just how much abuse your garbage disposal can handle. Although some fruit peels won’t be an issue, there are some fruits that have harder peels that you wouldn’t want to put down the drain. Some fruit rinds don’t break down quite as easily as others would. So, be careful what you put down the drain. It could cost you more in plumbing costs later on. A good tip is not to chuck down anything that you wouldn’t eat.

Starches and some fibrous food

It may seem harmless, but starches and fiber from different types of foods can actually harm your garbage disposal pretty easily. The blades of your garbage disposal could get damaged as well as the motor. Starches cling onto the walls of pipes, and your garbage disposals’ blades are no exception.

Fats, grease, and oils

Once you start pouring grease and fats into your garbage disposal, you’re literally creating a lining on your pipes that would eventually become sludge. This is the nasty stuff that you don’t want to ever encounter. They are slimy, stinky, and just downright gross. If you’re already in a tough situation, call an emergency plumber right away. Instead of pouring the stuff down the drain, put it in a container that you don’t mind throwing away, let it set and congeal and throw it in the trash.

Wet wipes and towelettes

Ever since we have known, we are all used to using toilet paper and flushing it down the toilet. That’s just how it goes and it’s perfectly fine. However, the same cannot be said for wet wipes and towelettes. Unlike toilet paper, which is completely degradable upon contact with water, wet wipes are made out of synthetic materials and don’t degrade at all. That’s why your drainage system could easily be clogged. What’s even more problematic is the huge pile of solid waste that it creates as it clumps up with other non-degradable items.

Kitty litter

Never ever flush kitty litter down the toilet. It’s made out of silica, clay, and other ingredients that aren’t supposed to suck in moisture. This means once you flush them down, the kitty litter sucks in water, expands, and becomes potential blockage for your pipes.

Eggshells

This is a no brainer. However, some people are still found to drop them down the disposal unit. Although there’s a myth that they “sharpen the blades” but they actually don’t. They can dull the blades faster instead. Also, the membrane that comes with the eggshells could wrap around the shredder ring that could cause problems in the long run.

Toys

If you’ve got kids, please do not let them bring any toys that are small enough to fit through your toilet. Some reports of toys being flushed down the toilet have had severe consequences that didn’t end up too well. Your plumber wouldn’t like that either.

Hair, dental floss, and some other stringy things

If you’re one of the many people who flush their floss down the toilet, stop it right away. This habit has got to stop. Floss is just like wet wipes, they don’t decompose. To avoid getting tangled up in a nasty situation, throw your floss right down the trash for clog-free pipes.