Frequently Asked Questions

Inspect tiles to see if any are missing or cracked. Check grout areas to see that the grout is present. Water can seep behind tiles and damage the wall if the tile and grout are not in good shape.

Don't let water sit in the tub. Standing water can find ways to get around a faulty drain.

Check out caulking around tubs and showers and replace or repair any areas allowing water to seep through.

Dry the floor immediately after bathing or showering. Don't let water sit on the floor.

Use the exhaust fan to pull moist air out of the area. Keep the room as dry as possible.

These are exposed to moisture every day. Inspect them often to see no leaks or moisture issues that might cause problems.

If the trap has a leak or any moisture around it, this could indicate a problem with your plumbing in Kansas City. Somewhere in the system, there must be excess moisture. Get this looked at.

Any drips from faucets need to be repaired. Small leaks lead to more significant leaks and bigger problems.

Check seals and grout around sinks also. Replace or repair them if they are cracked, broken, or missing.

The seal on the bottom of the toilet needs to be inspected regularly. If you see water near the toilet's base, have the seal replaced.

Make sure the tank does not leak. If you hear the tank filling for no reason, you know there is a leak. This constant water drip can cause damage to the toilet and any others near it that stay wet.

Check the water lines leading to the toilet. These can often leak and cause damage if left unchecked.

Water leaks in the bathroom are often hard to detect since most pipes are in the wall. Check the walls for soft spots and discoloration. 

Inspect adjacent rooms to the bathroom. Water and moisture detected in these areas could indicate a problem in the bathroom. 

If you have a two-story home, check the ceiling areas under second-story bathrooms to see if there are any issues.

Turn off the water at the main valve. You will stop further water damage right then and there (a momentary bright spot because you'll know that things can only get better from here.)

Assess the burst and the surrounding area to the best of your ability. If the pipe burst has occurred on an upper level, see if the water has already moved (or can move) to a lower level.

Turn off the electricity to the affected regions of your home. You cannot be "too safe" with this step; the combination of water and electricity can cause shocks, electrocution, and even death. So if you're uncertain, shut down all the power.

Take photographs of the damage. Naturally, you want to get to work. But take a few minutes to take pictures as you work. You will need them when you submit an insurance claim.

Contact Two Pillars Plumbing Today! Call (816) 986-7499. 

Call for plumbing help if you need it, whether it be from the Experts or for a leak contained in one room, a neighbor, or a friend. Without trying to alarm you, understand that you are now competing against the clock since mold can develop in as little as 24 hours.

Open the windows for ventilation. If you still have electricity, turn on fans to get air circulating and reduce odors.

Remove anything and everything touched by water, including rugs, furniture, and books. Get these wet items out of the house—don't just set them aside—so that you don't create more work for yourself later. Place wet items on a tarp in your garage or on the lawn.

Use a wet vac to start removing the water. Depending on how much water has accumulated, this step could take a while; emptying the vac takes time, too. Keep at it until your efforts come up dry.

Tend to wood flooring before carpet since it is now susceptible to warping. Check your flooring warranty for emergency care instructions. At the very least, wood floors should be dried out thoroughly with fans.

Pull back sections of waterlogged carpet and padding and train a high-powered fan on the area to dry it out.

Run a dehumidifier to draw moisture out of the air.

Clean vinyl floors with soap and water. If you fear mold or mildew growth, use bleach, too. Fill a 1-gallon bucket of water and clean ceramic tile with 1 cup of white vinegar and stone tile with 1 tablespoon of Murphy Oil Soap.

Check your drywall for water damage. If the seams are still intact, the drywall should be fine. If the seams have swelled or separated, you will need more than plumbing help from the experts; you will need new drywall, too.

Some old towels on the floor, especially if there is a lot of water there, so you don't accidentally slip and fall.

Remove the lid from the toilet tank and set it down.

Reach inside the tank and press down on the flapper valve—a rubber piece located in the bottom-center region of the tank. This move will stop water from flowing into the bowl and, by extension, from flowing over the sides.

Lift on the float to stop the tank from filling. The water level in the bowl should start to drop. After about a minute, the water level should return to normal; now, you can let go of the float and let the bowl refill without worrying about it overflowing. But keep an eye on it, just in case.

If the water level doesn't start to drop after about a minute, keep holding onto the float while you shut off the water at the toilet supply valve. This is where things can get tricky, but not for long: the valve is usually located near the floor or on the wall behind the toilet. Turn it clockwise to close it. If you cannot hold onto the float and reach the valve simultaneously, release the float and close the valve as quickly as you can.

Test the other plumbing fixtures in the bathroom to see if they are working as they should.

Check the other toilets in your home to see if they flush properly. A toilet can overflow for several reasons, including a problematic septic field (if your home is on a septic system); a blocked trap, an S-shaped device located between the bowl and the drain line that is supposed to keep the drain from clogging in the first place; a clog in the pipes inside your home; a clog in the pipes leading outside your home, including the main sewer line, which can be disrupted by the root systems of trees; or a low-flow toilet, which generally means older models. Most often, toilets overflow because they cannot process a foreign object (such as a children's toy) or an influx of material (such as tissue).

Call Two Pillars Plumbing the minute you encounter anything troubling or suspicious. You're not a licensed plumber, but we have a crew of them waiting to help diagnose and fix any plumbing problem in your home.

If only one toilet is affected, chances are that it is blocked. And you can attempt to unclog it yourself.

Place the toilet plunger cup at the center of the hole in the toilet bowl. Exert slow pressure at first, then gradually increase the pace and pressure of your movements until the clog is dislodged and the toilet flushes freely.

Clean up large amounts of water with a wet/dry vacuum. Old towels should suffice for more minor spills. Ensure that you dry out smaller spills. Ensure that you dry out any soaked areas—and disinfect them with bleach—so that you don't develop a mold problem.

A clogged toilet is generally a big mess and not fun to deal with. The easiest way to unclog a stopped-up toilet is with a plunger. Ensure there is enough water in the bathroom to cover the head of the plunger, or it won't work correctly. Add water using a bucket or other container if there is not enough water. Don't flush the toilet, as it might overflow. The back-and-forth action of the plunger may cause the clog to break loose. If not, you can try a plumber's snake, but be warned, this will be a very messy job.

Kitchen sinks are usually stopped up by grease that has cooled and expanded in your pipes. That grease then catches other particles and adds to the problem. The best way to prevent issues with your kitchen plumbing is to keep the sink from getting clogged in the first place by not putting grease down the drain. Once clogged, a plunger can be used to try and unclog the drain. The plumber's snake can again be used as it might quickly clear the pipe. Again, Drano or something similar can be used, but be very careful using this product.

Your bathtub may have the same issue as the bathroom sink, hair. Pull off the grate that covers the drain and try the same things as you would with a bathroom sink. This will hopefully work and keep your bathroom plumbing working efficiently.

If one of the larger pipes in your home is clogged, this might be a more significant issue. A plunger and the plumber's snake can be tried, but the clog might be more than these can handle. Drano is a real issue here also. The amount of substance you have to pour in your system to unclog the drain might damage your pipes. You might be forced to call a plumber.