The upcoming winter holidays are a time for celebration, not malfunctions. Taking action to mitigate damage to your plumbing is imperative if something strange starts happening. Since these problems occur when you least expect them, I wanted to prepare myself better. Professional plumbers over at One Stop Plumbers pinpointed a few things I should monitor to prevent expensive repairs or, at least, spot them early on. Here’s what I learned:
Know Where the Main Valve is
Water shut-off valves can be used to stop water flow throughout a home quickly. You must stop the water before trying to conduct any repairs, even if you know the source of the leak. Some apartments may be without shut-off valves, which indicates that they are probably located elsewhere in the building.
Be Careful not to Puncture
Drilling holes in walls or ceilings may not affect a leak directly, but it is good to consider when you are doing so. It is possible to puncture a valve with a simple nail in a wall. To prevent this from happening, you should learn how pipes are laid out to determine where drilling is safe. A stud finder can be used to conduct this search efficiently. An endoscopic camera allows you to peer into your walls and pinpoint any valves that might close to walls with the risk of puncturing.
You Can’t Flush Everything Down the Drain
Lazy people often don’t think about the consequences of their actions or don’t care enough to think about them. Don’t be like that, because you will only make things difficult in your home. It is unacceptable to throw food, drink, wrapping materials, or cigarette butts into a toilet. If you live in a building, it’s very easy for it to get clogged and cause problems for you and your neighbors. Designate a separate trash bin next to the toilet where you will easily throw anything that doesn’t belong in the toilet.
Kitchen drains are also not designed to handle everything you throw down them. Learning what is acceptable and what you should not throw in your sink may be a good idea. By being disciplined and careful, unnecessary and expensive repairs can be avoided.
Don’t Let Leaks Grow
Dripping faucets shouldn’t be ignored, but you shouldn’t panic. It’s just wasteful and costly, and the drip can be annoying in the evening when things quiet down, especially after working all day and you need the rest. When the dripping is the sign of something much larger, you will probably be able to fix it much easier and less costly if you react sooner. A minor leak could indicate more serious problems to come, so you need to get in touch with your plumber immediately and schedule a visit the next day if possible.
Plunge
Plungers are especially useful when dealing with clogged kitchen sinks. It is wise to use it to remove water and other debris before you begin the unclogging process. There should be one in every household. The plunger can be used anywhere in the house to clear clogs.
Contact a Good Plumber
When you notice something is wrong with your plumbing, you should call a plumber. Professionals can assess the situation and resolve problems, regardless of whether it’s a leak or a clog.
The lifespan of valves can be extended with regular maintenance. Rather than spending time and money repairing a problem, it is always better to prevent it. It is advisable to call a plumber once a year to perform a regular inspection, even if everything seems fine.
