Emergency Plumbing in Winston-Salem, NC
What starts as an inconvenience can turn into a costly problem in no time with plumbing. A burst pipe has the potential to soak your flooring and drywall, an overflowing fixture will do water damage in minutes, and a sewer backup can put sewage in your living area. That is why Benjamin Franklin Plumbing Triad is on hand to provide the kind of emergency service these urgent matters demand, day or night.
If an essential system has failed and you have a drain that is running over, a sewer line backup or an active leak, an early call to a plumber is the best way to contain the situation.
When to Call for an Emergency
There are some repairs that can wait and others that cannot. We consider a number of scenarios to be true emergencies, from sewage overflowing to a sudden loss of hot water or any issue with a gas line.
Contact an emergency plumber if you are faced with:
- A major leak or an active burst pipe
- An overflow from a toilet
- Sewage coming up through a drain
- Water around the base of a heater
- A clog that is impacting all toilets in the home or business
- Essential hot water that has gone cold
- Any sign of water in your walls, floors, or ceilings
- A break in the main supply line
Plumbing issues rarely give warning, but a prompt response can save you from thousands of dollars in damage.
Steps to Take While You Wait
Should you have an active leak and can get to the shutoff without risk, go ahead and turn off the fixture or the main supply to the home. If the source of the leak is hard to isolate, our recommendation is to shut off the main.
Put any valuables out of harm’s way from standing water. Do not try to open up walls or make complicated fixes on your own, and stay clear of electrical equipment in a flooded zone. With a sewer backup, exercise extra care to keep pets and children at a distance from the sewage; you may need to do some cleanup once we have the plumbing sorted. In the event of a gas smell, exit the building and put in a call to the proper utility or emergency service from somewhere safe.
Older Plumbing and Burst Pipes
The older housing stock in the region presents its own set of challenges. In historic parts of town like West End and Ardmore, you may find galvanized pipes that have lost their capacity over the years. Corrosion and weak fittings are common with aging systems, and old shutoff valves can be stubborn when you need them most.
Then there is the winter factor. North Carolina may be moderate, but it does get below freezing. Unheated areas such as crawl spaces and garages leave exterior pipes exposed to the elements. A professional can put in the immediate fix and take a look at the surrounding work to see if another failure is in the making.
Dealing with Sewer and Drain Issues
An occasional slow drain is one thing, but sewage in the home is another. If you see several fixtures backing up at once, the trouble is likely further down in the main line. Tree roots, debris, and old piping can all be culprits. Sometimes an emergency cleaning is enough; other times a full inspection is in order.
It is worth noting the difference between public and private responsibility. According to Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Utilities, they handle breaks in the street mains while the property owner is on the hook for anything on private land. For a municipal backup or rupture, the city has you contact CityLink so they can locate the problem.
Water Heater Emergencies
Not every hiccup with a water heater is an emergency, but a tank that is actively leaking is. If you see water spreading across the floor, cut off the supply and put in a request for service. Our technicians can tell you if the fault lies with a valve, the element or the tank itself. This holds for both tankless and standard systems when a breakdown is putting the property at risk or leaving you without hot water.
Permits and Local Regulations
While some of what we do is straightforward, larger installations and repairs will need to be permitted and inspected once the crisis is over. The Inspections Division for the City-County is the agency that oversees this in Forsyth County under state code. Our licensed contractors can apply for the necessary trade permits via the BuildIT system, which is yet another reason to rely on experienced professionals for any major alterations.
Serving the Triad
From Kernersville to Greensboro and High Point, we are here for homeowners and businesses in the Triad. We make it a priority to handle the burst pipes and active leaks that come our way.
The Triad is a fine place to put down roots, with the history of Old Salem and good outdoor dining options like the Village Tavern at Reynolda or Muddy Creek Café. But when you have a plumbing emergency at home or in your business, call Benjamin Franklin Plumbing Triad to get it under control.
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