Ah the winter holidays. The family gathered around the table to enjoy a feast. The holiday parties and events. The outings and, too often, that overflowing toilet or frozen pipe that means contacting in an emergency plumber. In Minneapolis, many have experienced this disastrous episode. They know what it is like to come home from an evening of fun and entertainment and walk into a soggy mess.
Such events may seem inevitable. It is true that a few may not be easily avoided. However, while a plumbing emergency may seem to appear seemingly out of nowhere, there are many that are not the result of accidents or happenstance. They can as many an emergency plumber speaking from experience can inform you, be avoided. All it requires is that you and your family or business partners act proactively.
What Is Being Proactive?
You can be proactive in regards to your plumbing in several ways. The less obvious is this. Find and connect with a service in the Minneapolis area that will not only be there to handle your regular plumbing needs, but also send an emergency plumber out when you need him or her. This will require you do some advance research and actually contact several plumbing services to ensure you have all their information well in advance of any plumbing emergency.
The second factor of being proactive involves knowing as much as possible about your plumbing system. Find out how old your fixtures and system are. Understand the age of the fixtures and, definitely, how old your pipes and other components are. Talk to the previous owner about when was the last time an emergency plumber was called and for what.
You should also, if you have any questions or concerns, call in a plumber to assess the current state of your plumbing system. He or she may not only be able to point out potential trouble areas, but also how to address some minor difficulties before they cause concern. Their visit may mean paying a bill, but it is small price when compared to what an emergency plumber can command.
While a plumber is checking out your system, you should also ask about the location of some of the major components of your plumbing system. You need to know:
* Where the major drains are
* Where the cut off valves are located
* Where the sewer line is on your property and where it connects to the main line
* Any peculiarities of your system
By knowing all these points in advance, you can help defuse the potential for greater damage if a plumbing emergency occurs. It will also make it easier for you to direct the emergency plumber to the right location or trouble spot.
The final step to help you avoid calling in an emergency plumber is maintenance. Even if you have a good plumber, know about potential problems, and are aware of smaller existing one, this will serve no purpose if you do not adopt a regular maintenance program. This is the only way to avoid that late night or holiday call.
Avoiding that Emergency Plumber Call
If you live in Minneapolis, there are times when a plumbing emergency will occur. When it does, make the call. Yet, there are also times when it is possible to avoid this. If you take care of your plumbing system on a regular basis and understand the potential for an emergency to occur, you just may be able to reduce the instances of that harrowing experience of phoning for an emergency plumber in the night.