Whether it’s an overflowing toilet or burst pipe, plumbing emergencies can happen at any time of the day. In these situations, it’s important to address it as soon as possible, especially if you live in a dual-occupancy home. That’s because plumbing emergencies are much more complex in dual occupancy homes and require urgent solutions. A rapid response by emergency plumbers in Bayside Melbourne can help avoid costly damage and neighbour disputes.
5 Common Plumbing Emergencies in Dual-Occupancy Homes
Burst Pipes
A burst pipe can release several gallons of water into your home in minutes. This counts as an emergency because water damage can destroy your drywall, flooring, and furniture, potentially affecting the second unit as well. When faced with a burst pipe, shut off the main water supply and remove electronics and valuables from the affected area. Then, call emergency plumbers in Bayside Melbourne.
Sewer Backups
A blocked sewer line can cause sewer backup, and it has the potential to affect both units in a double-occupancy home. Besides being inconvenient, it’s a significant health hazard that releases harmful bacteria. When left unaddressed, sewer backups can contaminate your walls and flooring, affecting both units. If this happens, you should call a 24-hour plumbing specialist. Until they arrive, avoid using any fixtures and turn off the main water supply to stop wastewater from backing up.
Water Heater Malfunction
A malfunctioning water heater can be a major inconvenience for dual-occupancy homes, especially if you share the same system. Not having any hot water can make cooking, cleaning, and showering much more difficult for you and neighbours, but that’s not all. It also increases the risk of burst pipes and leaks for you and the neighbouring unit property.
Running Toilet or Leaky Tap
Overflowing toilets and leaky taps aren’t just annoying, they can waste a lot of water and lead to higher utility bills if left unchecked. And if the leak is severe, it could cause significant water damage to both units in a dual-occupancy home. A common cause for leaky taps is a worn out washer, while running toilets can happen because of a faulty flapper. Before you call an emergency plumber in Bayside Melbourne, it’s best to shut off the main water valve.
No Running Water
If you’re not getting running water or the pressure is very low, it’s a problem that requires urgent professional attention. It counts as an emergency because you won’t have water to cook, clean, or use the bathroom. This usually happens because of a broken pipe inside your walls. To find and fix the leak, you’ll need to call specialist plumbers with advanced leak-detection tools.
Why Dual-Occupancy Makes Emergencies More Risky
Potential for Damage to Adjoining Unit
When you ignore plumbing emergencies in a dual-occupancy building, issues like water damage, mould growth, and structural damage can spread from one unit to another. With shared infrastructure, plumbing failure in one unit can impact both of them.
Disputes Over Responsibility When Left Unaddressed
When you fail to address a plumbing emergency in time, it doesn’t just lead to more expensive repairs and disruptions for all tenants or occupants. It can also lead to disputes over who was responsible for the emergency, causing further delays. Promptly addressing the issue by calling emergency plumbers can prevent long-term damage and further disputes.
Risk of Council Compliance Breaches
Plumbing emergencies in dual-occupancy homes can affect more than one dwelling, increasing the chances of council code violations. Failing to address a sewage backup or burst pipe in one unit affects the second one, potentially leading to breach of council regulations for property maintenance or drainage.
Tips for Managing Emergencies in Dual-Occupancy Properties
Though the best course of action is always to prevent plumbing emergencies, it helps to know how you can manage them:
- Know where your shut-off valves are so you can turn off the water or gas supply in case of a leak
- Contact co-owners or tenants immediately so they can take measures to protect valuables from water damage and/or evacuate.
- Have an 24-hour emergency plumber on call so you can address the problem immediately without delays.
- Call professional plumbers for preventative maintenance and schedule CCTV inspections of your drains.
Why You Shouldn’t Delay Repairs
Compounding Costs
Costs of emergency repairs can increase exponentially when you delay them, and can even lead to replacements.
Insurance Risks
Getting urgent repairs can allow you to file an insurance claim, but delaying them could lead to claims getting rejected.
Potential Council Penalties
If the problem causes water damage, health hazards, or sewage leaks, you may break local health and safety regulations.
Strained Neighbour Relationship
Disputes over who caused the plumbing emergency in the first place is bound to strain relationships with neighbours.
Work With Trusted Emergency Plumbers in Bayside Melbourne
Plumbing emergencies like burst pipes, leaky taps, running toilets, or malfunctioning water heaters, require immediate attention. This is especially the case if you live in a dual-residency build, because it results in extensive damage that’s expensive to repair. When faced with these issues, you should shut off the main water valve and call an emergency plumber in Bayside Melbourne.
At Plumb Well Solutions, our licensed plumbers are available around the clock to assist with emergencies. We provide quick responses, ensure quality workmanship, and offer free quotes.