Holiday Plumbing Emergency

Ok, here it comes. The holidays are upon us and it is already stressful without having to deal with a plumbing emergency. But fear not. If you happen to hit a seasonal snafu, here are some ways to handle problems before you have to call a plumber.

Clogged toilet: When your toilet is clogged, do not try to flush it again, this can cause it to overflow. 

1. If the toilet is overflowing, turn off the water coming into the toilet by turning the shut off valve located behind the toilet and attached to the wall. This will stop the flow of water into the toilet and stop the over flow. 
2. Next, get a plunger and start plunging. A flange plunger works best because it creates a better seal. Make sure there is a good seal, then plunge forcefully up to 10 times. This should clear the problem. Repeat this process if it doesn’t unclog.
3. Use some old towels to clean up any mess on the floor. 

If you’re lucky, the clog will unjam and the water will drain quickly and it’s a fairly painless fix! If the clog persists, you may have a bigger issue.

Fixing a garbage disposal backup:

1. First turn off the power to the garbage disposal; go to the electrical breaker box to turn off the power. 
2. Use a flashlight to see any debris that may be stuck in the drain, then remove the debris with tongs (never put your hand down the drain). 
3. Press the reset button on the bottom of the unit. Look for a small, red or black reset button on the bottom of the disposal unit and press it firmly. 
4. Turn the power back on, and see if this fixed the problem.  
5. If it is still clogged, turn the power off again. Then manually rotate the blades with an allen wrench: find the hexagonal socket on the underside of the disposal and insert an Allen wrench and rotate back and forth. This should clear whatever is jammed in there and free the impellers. Impellers are a pair of metal lugs that are mounted on a spinning plate (they are not the blades).
6. If it is still clogged, see below.

Clogged sink:

1.  Use a sink plunger to dislodge the blockage. Place it over the sink drain to create a good seal and place a towel or stopper over the other sink drain if you have a double sink to create suction.
2. Use vinegar and baking soda to help clear the drain. Pour baking soda (½ cup) into the drain, then add white vinegar (1 cup) to let the mixture fizz. Let the mixture sit for about 20-30 minutes to break down the clog. Then add boiling water down the drain to flush the clogged materials out. 
3. If the problem persists, check the P-trap. The P-trap is the u-shaped pipe under your sink. Place a bucket under the pipe and loosen the slip nuts to remove the trap and check for blockages. Clean it out and reassemble the plumbing, then run cold water to flush it out.

If these fixes don’t cure your plumbing ailments, then you’ll have to call in a plumber to deal with whatever bigger issue is lurking underneath the surface. Tony’s Plumbing and Heating is here to help, even if it is after hours. Give us a ring and we can get your holidays back on track.

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