6 Ways to Avoid a Plumbing Disaster

If you want to do everything in your power to avoid a plumbing disaster, you should be sure to perform regular maintenance of your plumbing systems. Unfortunately even if you do everything right, emergencies happen and they rarely call ahead to warn you. Luckily there are a few things you can do to minimize the risks.

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Annual Maintenance

You should hire a professional plumber at least once a year to inspect your entire plumbing system to make sure everything is working correctly. If there are little problems, they can be fixed before they turn into more expensive and potential disasters.Only a highly trained professional plumber will be able to detect and fix complicated problems that you might not have even realized were an issue.

Know When to Hire a Professional

Many home owners will avoid calling a professional plumber and try to fix problems themselves to save money. However, there are reasons when you would be better off in the long run hiring a pro. Professional plumbers have the training, skills, experience, and the right tools to fix your issue right the first time.

There could also be an underlying problem that you will not know about that if not fixed, can lead to extensive damage that will cost you a lot of money.

This plumber in Kilsyth knows how important it is to get to the bottom of a plumbing problem rather than just fixing the symptoms. “Using a thorough inspection process will ensure that a trained plumbing professional will get to the bottom of your plumbing problem and save your home from a plumbing disaster”.

It is also a good idea to know a professional plumber that has been tried and tested and found to be worthy before a plumbing emergency occurs. You don't want to have to start looking for someone you can trust while your house is flooding because of a broken pipe. It's best to be prepared ahead of time.

Watch Your Drains

You might not think that letting little things go down your kitchen sink drain can cause a problem. However, these things can accumulate and cause your pipes to become blocked. You also don't want to let cooking grease or oil get into your drains because it can harden and clog up your drain. Get rid of your grease by putting in a can or jar and then eventually in the garbage.

Don’t Ignore Noisy Water Heaters

Water heaters do often make some noise. However, if you start hearing sounds you haven’t heard before, it could be a sign that there is a problem you need to address. If you hear rumbling noises, you could have loose minerals or sediment in the tank. If this is your situation, you will need to use more gas or power to heat your water. Over time, this will shorten the life span of your water heater. The sediment needs to be dissolved, either by using a cleaner or calling a plumber to fix it for you.

Watch What You Flush

Whatever you flush down the toilet has the potential to cause a clogged pipe. The only things that should be going down your toilet are human waste and toilet paper. Even too much toilet paper can cause your toilet to overflow which is never a fun thing. Paper towels, feminine hygiene products, and baby wipes can seriously block your pipes.

Many companies sell what are called "flushable" wipes. Be careful because some news outlets have highlighted concerns from some municipalities. They report residential contamination and sewage back-ups when some of these wipes are not breaking down in the septic system.

Know Where Your Main Valve is Located

If you find a leak or overflow, it is imperative that everyone in your house know where your main water valve is and how to turn it off. It is also a good idea to shut it off when you go on vacation. When the water valve is off, you can rest assured that your house will not get flooded while you are enjoying some time off.

Unfortunately you can't stop a plumbing disaster but you can do a few things to do your best to avoid one. A good rule of thumb is make sure you don't ignore little problems, such as small leaks, as they have the potential to grow into larger problems or a plumbing disaster.