Blog

Let’s be honest, plumbing problems never pick a good time to show up. One day your home feels fine, the next you’re standing in water or hearing something running behind the wall. Around Cincinnati, Dayton, and Northern Kentucky, it doesn’t take long for a small problem to turn into a big mess.

A plumbing emergency is anything that can damage your home or make it unsafe. That might be a burst pipe, a sewer backup, or an overflowing toilet. When that happens, you can’t wait until tomorrow. That’s why Apollo Home is ready day and night to handle plumbing emergencies whenever they happen.

Common Plumbing Emergencies

Some plumbing issues can wait a few days, but others need help right away. Here are a few we see the most often in Southwest Ohio homes.

• Burst pipes
  When a pipe bursts, water moves fast and doesn’t stop until the main valve is shut off. Freezing weather, old pipes, or high pressure are usually to blame.
• Sewer backups
  If you smell sewage or see water coming up through your drains, stop using your plumbing and call for help. It means your main line is likely clogged. This isn’t something you want to handle on your own.
• Overflowing toilets
  A clogged toilet can flood a bathroom in minutes. Turn off the valve near the base of the toilet to stop the water and then call a plumber to clear the drain safely.
• Major leaks
  Leaks under sinks or around water heaters can soak drywall and flooring before you even notice. Even slow leaks waste a lot of water and often lead to mold.
• Frozen pipes
  Cold Cincinnati winters are tough on plumbing. When water freezes, it expands and cracks the pipe. You usually find out when it thaws and starts leaking.
• Gas line issues
  If you smell gas or hear a hissing sound, leave your home and call 911. Once it’s safe, Apollo Home can inspect and repair the gas line.

What to Do When a Plumbing Emergency Happens

If something goes wrong, take a breath and move quickly. A few steps can help you control the damage until a plumber arrives.

Shut off the water. Find your main shut-off valve and turn it clockwise to stop the flow. If it’s just one fixture, use that fixture’s smaller valve.

Turn off the water heater. If the leak involves your water heater or your system loses pressure, shut it off to prevent more damage.

Contain the water. Grab towels, buckets, or whatever you have nearby to keep the water from spreading. The faster you clean it up, the better.

Skip drain cleaners. They can damage your pipes and rarely fix the problem.

Call for help. Even if you stop the water, the cause still needs attention. Apollo Home provides emergency service around the clock across Cincinnati, Dayton, and Northern Kentucky.

Why You Shouldn’t Wait to Fix It

It’s easy to think the problem is over once the water stops, but plumbing issues rarely stay small. A leak that seems minor today can turn into a burst pipe tomorrow. A clog that’s ignored can back up into your basement. Waiting only makes it worse.

Here’s what can happen if you put it off:

• Water seeps into walls and floors where you can’t see it.
• Damp spots turn into mold, especially during Ohio’s humid months.
• Leaks near wiring can cause electrical hazards.
• Sewage backups can lead to health risks and bad smells.
• Small leaks keep running and drive up your water bill.
• The longer you wait, the more expensive the repair gets.

Dealing with it early keeps the fix simple and protects your home.

How to Prevent Plumbing Emergencies

You can’t stop every problem, but good maintenance helps. Here’s what you can do to lower your risk:

• Have your plumbing inspected once a year to catch leaks early.
• Get your drains cleaned professionally instead of using chemicals.
• Replace old or rusty pipes before they fail.
• Know where your shut-off valves are and make sure they still work.
• Wrap exposed pipes before freezing weather hits.
• Flush and check your water heater once a year.

A little prevention is much easier and cheaper than dealing with a flooded room later.

Why Homeowners in Cincinnati Call Apollo Home

When something breaks, you want help fast. You don’t want to leave a message and wait hours for a call back. Apollo Home has been helping families around Cincinnati, Dayton, and Northern Kentucky for more than a hundred years. We know the older houses with cast iron pipes, the newer ones with poor installs, and how Ohio weather can make both tricky.

Our plumbers show up ready to work, with trucks stocked for most repairs. Whether it’s a burst pipe, a leaking water heater, or a sewer backup, we get it fixed quickly and cleanly.

We’re local, and that matters. We live here too, and we understand how stressful it feels when something breaks. When you call Apollo Home, you get someone who knows your area and shows up ready to help, not a stranger reading from a script.

 

Be Ready Before You Need Us

No one plans for a plumbing emergency but knowing what to do and who to call makes a huge difference. Keep Apollo Home’s number handy. If you see a leak, clog, or burst pipe, call right away. We can walk you through the first steps over the phone and send a technician as soon as possible.

If you’re dealing with a plumbing emergency right now, contact us right away!. We serve homeowners in Cincinnati, Dayton, Northern Kentucky, and all across Southwest Ohio with 24-hour plumbing repair and dependable local service.