As any homeowner will tell you, if something major is going to break, it will happen on the weekend. That's so you can spend hours trying to find a tradesman to fix your problem and then spend double-time paying for the repairs.
Whether you decide to DI.Y repair or take the easy and safe way out and call in your local emergency Trustworthy plumber, get familiar with the plumbing basics on unclogging and clearing drains. The bottom section of the drainpipe is called a trap that functions to "trap" some water in the line and create a water seal preventing offensive sewer gases from penetrating the home. Bathroom drains of showers, tubs and sinks may become blocked due to a build up of hair, soap scum and bodily oils and fats.
Many people wait until they have some major problem before dealing with a plumber. When it comes to emergencies, are you really going to properly vet the plumber you call? Nope. In haste, the first plumber who can get to your home is the best plumber for you. Wrong. The only way to make the situation worse, is to bring in a plumber you doesn't fix the plumbing issue right or charges way to much to fix it right.
To repair this internal shut-off valve you need to shut the water off to the whole house. When repairing the valve be aware that they are factory sealed and are not easy to take apart. Make sure to be careful when attempting to take them apart so that you don't put too much stress on the solder joints. Use two wrenches in opposite directions holding on to the body of the valve and the section that you are attempting to remove. Make sure to grab the hex shaped spot below the packing nut. Removing the packing nut won't get you to the washer you need to replace.
This one could be a toilet problem. You recall that the toilet water conditioner tank in the ladies washroom developed a crack last year. Even though it was only a hairline crack, over the course of a holiday shut-down, you arrived to find quite a large amount of water making its way across the tiled floor and out onto the carpet.
Your septic tank has to be emptied sometimes, and there's no easy answer to when it should be done. It depends on the size of the tank and the (sorry to mention it) consistency of the stuff going into it. Basically, if the septic tank isn't pumped out regularly, it will cause you thousands of dollars worth of problems. Ask your Local plumber for advice on your septic tank maintenance.
PRICE: There are various factors that will come into play where price is concerned. When your plumber determines what the problem is, be sure to ask him or her if the charges are hourly or if there is a standard fee for each job. Also remember to ask the price of parts as well as labor. Also make it a point to ask if the plumber charges for any overtime and what his rate is if he does charge that. It may be to your advantage to look for a plumber who has Upfront Pricing that is, a plumber who charges by the job, instead of by the hour. It is actually better to charge this way in order to make it easier for the customer to stay within their budget.
Identify the source of the clog. You can find the source by running water in other sinks in the house. If all drains back up, then the source of the clog is in the soil pipe itself. Call for service to root it out. If it's the toilet, plunge it. If it's only one sink drain, check underneath for a clean out trap. You can unscrew the plug at the bottom and pull out the clog.