Plumbing 101: How To Protect Your Home
There are measures that you can take to prevent you from repairing your foundation or slab flooring later on.
22/03/2021
A plumbing disaster is every homeowner’s worst nightmare. Plumbing problems such as an overflowing toilet, leaky pipe, or flooded basement can cause significant water damage. The damage that these plumbing problems can cause may end up costing thousands of dollars' worth of damage and may even destroy some of your expensive furnishings.
The biggest problem that people face with plumbing is the fact that it’s often underneath or next to the flooring. This means that if there are leaks or damage anywhere in your home, it will show up beneath the floors. If you have a foundation or slab flooring, then there’s a good chance that you’ll have to deal with plumbing problems eventually. Luckily, there are measures that you can take to prevent you from repairing your foundation or slab flooring later on.
If you completely have no idea about plumbing or only know a little about it, read this list of indications that you’re not getting tricked by a plumber, which is especially important if you decide to hire one. The more you know more about your home’s plumbing system, the more you can detect potential problems before they occur.
1. Check The Pipes
Leaky pipes can occur at any time. They will only get worse if you don’t take the problem seriously and do something about it. Leaky pipes may look simple, but once the water reaches your carpet and floors, it can cause considerable damage and be costly to manage. Any gray water that will permeate your carpet for 48 hours will require replacing it. Regulations are very strict with water damage on carpets since it can be a severe health hazard.
One option is to install a sump pump and use chemical treatment to get rid of any deposits on the pipes. This will prevent further water damage and prevent the problem from recurring.
If you have visible leaks, the first step is to turn off the water supply to the house. Then you can proceed to assessing what needs to be done. If no leak is visible, get a professional to do the assessment for you.
2. Check for Water Buildup
It's also important to avoid allowing excess water to build up in the pipes. This can lead to a variety of water-borne illnesses and infections. For example, a clogged toilet or sink drain is the root cause of a blocked bathtub. A clogged storm drain or sewer drain can cause unpleasant odors and foul smells to emanate from your toilets and sinks. Doing a daily routine of unclogging drains will help to prevent serious plumbing issues.
Your family will be at risk of developing health conditions like respiratory illnesses from inhaling the foul smell emanating from the drains. Additionally, if any stagnant water gets into contact with food, your family can get gastroenteritis and even hepatitis A. These are serious illnesses and sometimes even life-threatening, so addressing water build-up in your home is imperative.
3. Watch Out For Leaks
Leaks are one of the most common plumbing issues homeowners face. If you find any sort of leak in your home plumbing system, you should immediately have it repaired. However, leaks may be a sign of something worse such as your pipes being corroded or other plumbing problems. There are two types of leaks; primary and secondary. If you find leaks in your primary line, it may be due to rust or mineral buildup.
Also, don’t forget to check if your main water line is leaking. Testing kits can be bought at your local hardware store or on the Internet. If the leak is found, this should be repaired as soon as possible because continued exposure of your water source can lead to serious health complications. Additionally, you should make sure that the faucet running from your main water pipe is not obstructed.
4. Check The Drains
One of the most basic plumbing tips that any homeowner can follow is to ensure that he or she has a good storm water drain system installed. Even though most homeowners never think about storm water drains, these play an important role in removing sewer gases from the ground.
A clogged storm drain pipe is just as big a problem as a clogged sewer drain pipe because it allows sewer gases to seep back into the groundwater supply system, which eventually ends up in the water table and causes serious damage to underground piping. A clogged storm drain pipe can cause sewage backflows, and that can also lead to the creation of sinkholes. It's always best to have a functioning storm water drain system in your home.
5. Call A Professional
If the plumbing problem still persists, it’s time to contact a professional plumbing company. Plumbers know how to deal with some of the most basic plumbing problems. Even if you think you can solve a problem yourself, it’s better to call professionals who knows their stuff. They know exactly what they’re doing and can fix almost any issue.
Reaching out to experts is the best for your home since they’re trained and licensed, so they will not just fix the problem correctly, but they’ll do it fast. You know how inconvenient it could be to have a plumbing problem like a clogged toilet or overflowing drains persist in your home. So for your peace of mind, you better call a reliable plumber like Essendon Plumbing Services.
Final Thoughts
Your home’s plumbing is essential to your family, and sometimes prevention is better than cure. It’s best to look for signs rather than wait for things to escalate.
Following these simple tips to prevent plumbing issues can save you time and money on expensive plumbing repairs. By keeping an eye out for potential plumbing problems, you’ll help ensure that your water heating, cooling, and plumbing systems always work perfectly.