What to do while
waiting for the plumber
The most important things to know is the
location of your main shut-off valve and any secondary shutoff valves
as well as the electrical circuits that control your water pump and
furnace.
If you have a leak or water is flooding the area, immediately go to the
appropriate shut-off valve and turn off the incoming water. You and
each member of your family should know the location of these shutoff
valves. If the emergency is limited to a specific appliance or
fixture, look for its shutoff valve and close the valve by turning
clockwise, Turn off the main shutoff valve if the problem is a
leaking pipe or if there is no shutoff valve for the particular fixture
or appliance. This
doesn't solve your problem but it is the best thing to do while waiting
for the professional plumber to arrive. Ask our technicians to
help you locate and label your shut-off valves. If our plumbers
are already at your home, we can do this for you immediately.
Otherwise, give us a call and we will be happy to offer this courtesy
service.
Older Style Local Shutoff
If your home is older, your shut
off valve may look like this.
Newer homes
will have a lever style valve as shown below left.
| Have a Rapid Service technician help you
locate and label your shutoff valves |
 Leaking Pipe
If a pipe leaks or breaks or if a
joint should loosen, turn off the main shutoff valve to prevent water
damage. If you turn off the main water supply, turn off your hot
water heater by turning off the circuit breaker and the gas supply to
the hot water heater. Failure to do so can cause the hot water
heater to overheat, damage the heating elements and injure anyone who
unknowlingly turns on a hot water faucet.
Next, call Rapid Service or make temporary repairs yourself to stop the
leak. Have our plumbing technicians replace the pipe or resolder
the joint as soon as possible.
Appliance Leaks
 If your washing machine, dishwasher, or
other water using appliance appears to leak, first check to see that
the trap through which the appliance drains is completely open.
Sometimes a partially-clogged drain can cause an overflow within the
appliance. If the drain is clear, consult the appropriate
appliance repair person.
 Frozen
Pipes
Pipe insulation and freeze-resistant
outside faucets are available to reduce the risk of freezing Ask
our plumbing technicians for help in selecting a new outside faucet or
insulation.
If a pipe should freeze, thaw the pipe slowly with a hair dryer or
towels soaked in hot water, Heating the pipe slowly may prevent
the pipe from breaking. Do
not heat the pipe with a torch. This has been the cause of
many fires.
To prevent frozen pipes, drain water from outdoor faucets and pipes,
remove and store outdoor hoses and never leave your home unheated
during cold weather.
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