There are quite a few problems that you can have as a homeowner when it comes to your plumbing. Some of them are annoying but easy fixes. Others can cause a lot of problems and can even cost you your health and/or life.
Below we are going to look at some of the most common plumbing problems that you may have in your home and how you can prevent them from happening.
Burst Pipes
Pipes burst a lot of the time during the winter months when the weather is extremely cold and your pipes freeze. While this isn’t as common as a problem in California, there are absolutely years when the temperature dips low enough at night to burst a pipe or two. And because Californians aren’t as familiar with the issue, it can come as a shock and will need re-piping to be done in order to help fix the problem.
What’s even more shocking is that it can even happen during the spring, fall and summer months for reasons that don’t involve freezing, including unusually high water pressure and pipe corrosion.
Burst pipes can lead to a lot of problems, including the growth of mold and mildew, and they can even cause a lot of damage to your home. So you want to do what you can to prevent the pipes from bursting.
There are a variety of ways that you can prevent your pipes from bursting. During the winter months, when the temperatures are going below freezing, it’s a good idea to allow warm water to trickle out from your faucets. You can also install covers made of foam insulation put over your piping and keep your heat running.
During the remainder of the year, it’s also possible to prevent your pipes from bursting by monitoring and regulating your water pressure. Your pipes might burst if your water pressure’s too high, so have your plumber come to the house and test your water’s movement. If your pressure’s too high, they’ll put a valve in to reduce the pressure and bring it down.
Frozen Pipes
As mentioned above, when your pipes freeze, they will often expand before bursting. This can lead to a very expensive repair or replacement. When it’s very cold outside or is goes below freezing, our water in your pipes can freeze and you have to thaw it out immediately.
Frozen pipes can be prevented by following some of those instructions above. Some of these suggestions setting your thermostat at 55F or higher and allowing warm water to trickle from your faucet during cold weather to help keep your pipes thawed. In your home, you also can open up the doors of cabinets to warm up using the heat in the home as well as having form insulation put on your pipes.
Leaky Fixtures & Faucets
There are a variety of reasons that your fixtures and faucets might be leaking, and all of them can be preventable using the right maintenance. Your plumber can give you an evaluation of your home to find deteriorating or worn-out seals, corrosion and other problems which will waste water and lead to damage to your structure. Once you’ve spotted the issues, the fixtures can be replaced or fixed before they cause a lot of damage or cost you a lot in your bills.
Blocked Toilets & Drains
Clogged toilets and drains are a common issue with your plumbing which you can usually solve with a plunger to remove the obstruction. However, sometimes you have a problem that’s more serious. That is when you want to call your plumber.
Stopping your drain from becoming blocked will require some education about how you should properly use your sinks and toilet. You also should know what can go into the toilet and what can’t. For instance, fats, oils, sanitary napkins, tampons, paper towels, and other types of waste items can’t be flushed. They also shouldn’t put them down your sink drain. You also can prevent drain and toilet clogs by taking care of slow drains immediately when you’ve noticed it. call the plumber so that they can do the right repairs or maintenance necessary so that your drains keep flowing free and fast as well as to prevent the clogs from forming.
Gas Leaks
Of all of the problems on this list, gas leaks are the most dangerous. They can even be deadly, and that is why it’s very important that you are doing everything that you can so that they are prevented. When you want to prevent dangerous gas leaks, you want to make sure that you’re having your home’s appliances, like your stove, oven, boiler and other types of gas appliances maintained and serviced regularly. You also want to make sure that they are fixed or replaced when they are not working anymore or they’re too old.
It’s also important to have carbon monoxide detectors in your house. You want to make sure that they are working the way that they should. Even though this isn’t going to prevent gas leaks, it’s going to tell you if there is one so that you can get you and your family out of the house. Make sure that you are checking the detectors regularly to make sure it’s still working and replace the batteries regularly to ensure that you and your family are protected.
Some of the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are chest pain, confusion, dizziness, headache, upset stomach, vomiting and weakness. If you are noticing that you have any of these symptoms, it’s best to call your plumber because you might have a problem with carbon monoxide.
These are just five of the common plumbing problems that you may face as a homeowner and how you can avoid having them. If you need a plumber, give us a call. We have been serving your neighbors for a long time and we have plenty of experience with all kinds of plumbing problems. We are happy to answer your questions and let you know what we can do for you.
Don’t wait until it’s too late, because waiting too long could cost you a lot and cause a lot of problems for you and your family.
