The great benefits provided by indoor plumbing are rather hard to explain to a homeowner dealing with a flooded basement, a broken fixture or a leak in a wall. Next to a natural disaster, the one thing that can ruin your home is a major plumbing issue. Luckily, people who own homes can do many things to prevent major plumbing problems and to control the damage that does happen.
Noisy pipes is an easy do-it-yourself project. Anchor any pipes that are exposed. If pipes are located in the floor, ceiling or walls, you might want to have a professional help you complete the project.
To eliminate the possibility of having frozen pipes, maintain a constant temperature in your home above freezing, and be certain to adequately insulate those pipes that are out in the weather. If the ambient temperature around the pipes is below freezing, the pipes can freeze. In the very least, you could lose running water inside while waiting for the pipes to unfreeze. However, your pipes can explode, as well – making a huge plumbing bill.
Make sure the job gets done by not paying your plumber until you are satisfied, and the work is completed. Some plumbers may require a deposit, but don’t fork over all the dough until the job is completed to spec. You want to know the plumber has fulfilled all his requirements as promised in the agreement before he gets paid.
You should avoid using blue toilet tablets, bleach tablets or any other odor removers in your toilet. While they may make your toilet smell pretty, they can erode the rubber parts in the toilet and cause it to stop working.
Floor Damage
Check for floor damage around your toilet. If the floor around your toilet feels softer than the rest of the floor in your bathroom, there’s damage you need to address. Sit on your toilet and sway across both feet to feel if there are any spots less firm than the others. It’s important to catch and address floor damage problems as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the more expensive the repair will be.
When changing your shower head, replace it with one of good quality. Some people think they can get away with the cheapest version at the store. The problem with doing that is the cheaper shower heads are not known to be sturdy, and they tend to break easier.
Be sure that the dryer’s lint trap is clean. This can prevent troubles, including fires. Also, check the lint trap to see if there are telltale signs that lint may be leaking into your pipes through holes and tears.
Taking preventative measures means you will not have to spend as much on plumbing repairs. Drain clogs are a common plumbing issue and sometimes expensive to repair when they are not addressed promptly. Drains are easily clogged by hair. Screens and drain covers are great ways to stop hair from going down your drains. Because the hair is at a place where you can remove it, it saves you from having to call a plumber out to your home.
One costly plumbing repair is frozen pipes. Fortunately, such damage is easy to prevent. First, insulate your outside pipes well. When cold weather sets in, turn off your outside faucets, disconnect all hoses and drain them. You can save a bunch on your plumbing bills this way.
Keep from using harsh drain cleaners. If you utilize them too often you can damage your pipes. Rather, if you have a blocked drain, consider having a professional plumber come out to diagnose the cause.
Knowing about plumbing systems and preparing for issues beforehand are the best ways to stop plumbing problems. The savvy homeowner who takes the time to learn even a little about plumbing is better able to make good decisions while avoiding plumbing situations that could become dangerous. A homeowner that researches plumbing and knows what they’re doing before a problem happens will be better off if there is a problem.