Plumbing Emergencies
Plumbing emergencies can range from the devastation of a burst pipe, to the lethal effects of contaminated water and Carbon Monoxide poisoning. Most problems can be avoided if you keep your plumbing and heating systems well maintained. It pays to seek a professional qualified service like Blackheath Plumbers .Burst Pipes.The first thing to do is stop water. Isolate all stop valves which are often found under the kitchen sink. If there isnt an internal valve, turn off the water at the external valve which may be under a cover in your garden or path. If the escaping water cannot be controlled immediately, open all cold water taps so that the pipework and storage system drains quickly. DO NOT TURN ON HOT TAPS.??Turn off the central heating system and, if it uses a solid fuel boiler, allow the fire to die out. Switch off any electric immersion heater, then call a professional like a Blackheath Plumber .Frozen Pipes.If a pipe is frozen, first, turn off the main water supply at the stop valve inside your home. If you are confident, you could siphon the water from the cistern. If the pipe isnt split, thaw it out by applying hot water bottles.If any part of the hot water system is frozen, there could be a risk of explosion if the boiler (or other heat source) is kept alight, so ensure it is turned off, or for solid fuel systems, extinguish the fire. Be careful as although water could still flow from taps, other parts may still be frozen.Dont try to thaw it too quickly as there may be splits in the pipe which are not immediately noticeable.Never use a naked flame to thaw a pipe.Always start thawing a pipe at the end nearest the tap.