Tips For Maintaining Your Home’s Plumbing

By Author: livermore drain1
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The plumbing in your home is a complex arrangement of pipes, joints, fittings, adapters, drains, faucets, and valves. Even recognizing a problem can be difficult amidst the array of fixtures; not to mention that the majority of the plumbing may be concealed behind walls, under floors, or even buried in the concrete slab upon which your house sits. The task of identifying a problem is perplexing enough, not to mention actually fixing the problem. That’s why it is important to recognize a plumbing problem when you see one. That means you’ll always be prepared to visit your local plumber when you need advice or help.

Let’s take a look at the top 5 reasons to call for plumbing repair:

1. No more water? After you’ve gone over the water main and fixture valves, you may begin to wonder what’s going on. If you’ve not defaulted on your water utility bill, then you should call a plumber to see what’s going on with your plumbing.

2. Leak. Depending on your level of DIY confidence, you may try to mend a leak with any materials you have on hand. That may well be fine, as long as it holds the water ...
... on while you call a pro. While some leaks are straightforward, modest and slow leaks can be notoriously misleading. You may have a leak in your walls for months with only a small brown water stain for evidence. If you catch it early, then you can prevent a lot of frustration and damage later on.

3. Decrease in water pressure. Unlike your wastewater system, your potable supply is pressurized. If you notice your shower and faucets reduce to a fraction of their previous pressure, then it could indicate a hidden leak somewhere in your system. If you have a slab foundation, and so there may be further evidence of a slab leak, if your institution has shifted or settled.

4. Inadequate hot water. You turn on your water heater nearly every day, but you probably don’t think about it too much. That is, until you don’t have enough hot water for your morning shower…. Inadequate hot water can often be traced back to a worn-out heating element or thermostat issue.

5. Frequent basement flooding. Depending upon the topographical grade of your belongings and the location of your home, you may be subject to frequent basement flooding. If you don’t already have a sump pump, it’s a neat way to keep your basement clean and dry during inclement weather, when the ground swells with water.

Avoid frozen pipes. Watch your water pressure this time of year because the first sign of a frozen pipe is restricted water flow. If you notice this, be sure to act quickly and call a professional. Let the cold water drip from your faucets, slightly smaller than a pencil’s width, during the evening when the temperature is the coldest. This helps prevent freezing as moving water does not freeze. Garden hoses can cause major damage if not disconnected. During cold snaps, if a garden hose is left connected, ice will form and pressure will build up in the water lines inside your home