Routine or emergency plumbing which do I need?

When things seem to go wrong in our home it tends to be a big deal. To some people, anything that happens to them is an emergency. When it comes to plumbing however you should really know the difference between what is a routine plumbing problem and what is classed as an emergency plumbing situation. Knowing the difference can save you time money and in some cases embarrassment.

Key differences between routine and emergency plumbing issues

Routine plumbers generally only work from 9 to 5 Monday to Friday and don't work on public holidays. Emergency plumbers are available to work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Both routine and emergency plumbers are fully qualified plumbers, it is the hours in which they operate that determines the type of plumber they are.

Due to emergency plumbers being able to come out at all times of the day and night their rates are usually higher than a routine plumber. Most emergency plumbers do routine plumbing during normal hours, then they do emergency call outs once outside of the normal hours. Most plumbing agencies provide both routine and emergency plumbers.

Which service do I need?

The best way to work this out is by assessing the plumbing problem. Things like a weak shower head or a slow dripping tap, for example, could be classed more as an annoyance than an emergency and can most probably be fixed by a routine plumber.

In the event of any plumbing issue ask yourself these questions:

• Is this going to cause water damage to the property or belongings?
• If yes - you need an emergency plumber
• If no - you should call and book a routine plumber
• Is it possible to turn the water source off to the problem?
• If yes - it is advised to do so then call and book a routine plumber
• If no - you will most probably need an emergency plumber
• Can I live without these particular facilities until normal business hours?
• If yes - make sure not to use the broken facility and book a routine plumber
• If no - it is then a good idea to get an emergency plumber out to fix the problem

To be noted: This is a recommendation of what to do and is in no way to be taken as direct instructions. If you feel that your plumbing issue requires immediate attention then you should contact an emergency plumber.

Plumbing emergencies

Plumbing emergencies normally occur at random times and can completely interrupt the flow of your day or night. These emergencies quite often don't show signs until it is too late and require immediate attention. Some common plumbing emergencies include:

• Blocked or overflowing drains
• No hot water
• Gas leaks, gas smells
• Burst pipes & water leaks
• Overflowing, backed up or cracked toilet
• Raw sewerage overflow

No harm in calling a plumber

If you are unsure of what to class your plumbing problem as then simply calling your local plumbing can help. You will find that if the plumbing issue is not an emergency that the plumber will often talk you through measures to keep things going (or not) until business hours.