pixabay

 

Let’s not beat around the bush – plumbing emergencies can be an absolute nightmare to deal with, particularly when you have young kids. If you don’t have access to water or are suffering from clogged drains, it makes childcare very difficult indeed. And, of course, Murphy’s Law suggests an emergency will always happen precisely at the worst time. With this in mind, I thought we would take a look at some of the most common plumbing emergencies experienced by parents with young kids – let’s take a closer look.

 

Blockages
When you are busy looking after young children, it’s easy to forget to care for your drains properly. Food goes down the sink and congeals. Soap suds and hair end up being washed down the plug hole in your bath. And your kid, inevitably, will learn how much fun it is to flush inappropriate materials down the toilet. If any of these scenarios arise, and you notice you are having difficulty draining water or flushing your toilet, get help as soon as possible. According to  Alexandria plumbing experts, while most blockages will be easy to remove, if you leave them too long it can result in significant damage, including raw sewage backups.

 

The leaking tap

 

On the face of things, a simple leaking tap doesn’t seem like much of an issue. But unless you fix it, it’s going to end up costing you an astonishing amount of money over time. A leaking tap can waste anything up to and over 180 liters a day, and cost you hundreds of dollars across the year. It’s also important to understand that leaking taps will only get worse over time, so your costs will keep on rising. Sometimes the fix is as simple as changing a washer, but anything more than that, and we would advise calling in the pros.

pixabay

 

Burst pipes

 

Burst pipes tend to occur in cold weather. The pipes will freeze, then thaw, then freeze again – and it can take its toll. Any pipes that are exposed are at risk of bursting, which could lead to flooding issues, and will almost certainly cause damp problems. You will need to call in a professional unless you are a certified plumber. It may be that you have to have an entire pipe replacement installed, and might even have to have covering and pipe insulation set up, too.

Boiler problems

 

It’s every parent’s worse nightmare – no hot water to keep your children clean. And make no mistake about it, when your furnace and water heater goes kaput, it’s going to be expensive to replace. Ensure that you have some form of cover through an insurance plan. For a small payment every month you can rest assured that if anything does go wrong, you will have a quick solution – and it won’t cost you a small fortune.

 

Sewer spillages

 

Another big nightmare for parents is when one or more of your external drains blocks up, and results in sewage spilling out. Some plumbing rods might help you unblock the problem, but in many cases, you are going to have to call in a professional. The cost of a sewage backup can be enormous, and not just for the plumbing work. Sewage can ruin your garden and home, and it is also incredibly unsafe when you have small children kicking around.

What’s been your worst plumbing nightmare? Let us know in the comments section below.