How to Get By Until the Plumber Arrives

Running water is one of those things that’s easy to take for granted until you have to make do without it. When a plumbing emergency arises and you have to turn off your main water valve, suddenly many things become more difficult. But don’t panic! There are ways to get by until your water can be restored.

Hygiene is always the first concern when your water is turned off. You can always put off a shower or bath for a few hours, use dry shampoo or rinse your mouth with mouthwash, but what about using your toilet?

Each toilet in your household should still have enough water in the bowl for one more use. Depending on how many people live in your home, that may be enough to get you through until your plumber arrives.

If those spare flushes get used up, not to worry! Remember that toilets work by filling the tank after each time they are flushed. All you need is a bucket (or even a bathroom-sized trash can) and a source of water. If you have a swimming pool, you can borrow from there. Otherwise, you can ask a neighbor to let you use their garden hose or sink. About one gallon of water poured directly into the toilet bowl with force will produce the same flushing effect as water from the tank.

Of course, it may be best for families (especially those with small children or infants) to stay with a relative, friend, or neighbor for a while until the plumber arrives. The kids will be more comfortable and they won’t be underfoot while you’re dealing with the problem.

Brian Wear Plumbing offers 24-hour emergency service anywhere in the Columbia area, so if you have a plumbing emergency, you won’t have to wait long to get back to normal. Just call our office at 573-864-4463 and we’ll be on our way. For non-emergency services, you can call our office or contact us here.