Miami plumbers for homes, condos and buildings.

What it usually means

Water is escaping from a supply line, a fixture or the unit above. The longer it runs, the more drywall, flooring and ceiling it soaks.

What to do now

1. 1 Shut the main valve, or the valve for your unit.
2. 2 Switch off the water heater breaker.
3. 3 Move anything valuable away from the water.
4. 4 In a condo, let building management know as well.

What it usually means

The main drain line is blocked or damaged, so waste comes up through the lowest drain in the house.

What to do now

1. 1 Stop running water and flushing toilets.
2. 2 Keep children and pets away from the water.
3. 3 Leave drain chemicals on the shelf. They sit in the line and make the repair harder.

What it usually means

On an electric tank this is often a tripped breaker, a failed heating element or a worn thermostat. A tank past 10 years may be near the end of its life.

What to do now

1. 1 Check the breaker for the water heater.
2. 2 Look for water in the pan or on the floor around the tank.
3. 3 If the tank is leaking, close the cold water valve on top.

What it usually means

One slow drain is usually a local clog of hair, soap or grease. When several drains slow down at once, the main line is the likely cause.

What to do now

1. 1 Stop using the drain until it is cleared.
2. 2 Note which drains are slow. It helps us find the blockage faster.
3. 3 Skip chemical drain cleaners. They can damage older pipes.

What it usually means

A pipe, drain or seal above the stain is leaking. In a condo the source can be your unit or the one above you.

What to do now

1. 1 Stop using the fixtures above the stain.
2. 2 Take dated photos for your building or your insurer.
3. 3 Close your unit valve if the stain keeps growing.

What it usually means

Sewer gas is getting in through a dry trap, a cracked vent or a loose seal. A smoke test finds the exact spot.

What to do now

1. 1 Run water in sinks, tubs and floor drains that rarely get used.
2. 2 Check whether any toilet rocks at the base.
3. 3 Call us if the smell is still there the next day.

What it usually means

A running toilet usually has a worn flapper or fill valve. Water around the base means the wax seal under it has failed.

What to do now

1. 1 Turn the valve behind the toilet to stop the water.
2. 2 Hold off on flushing a clogged toilet a second time.
3. 3 Keep the floor dry around the base until it is fixed.

What it usually means

Drips come from a worn cartridge or washer inside the faucet. Weak flow is often a blocked aerator or a failing valve.

What to do now

1. 1 Unscrew the aerator at the tip and rinse out any grit.
2. 2 Close the valves under the sink if the drip gets worse.