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As a homeowner, taking care of every part of your property is vital. Your plumbing system should be one of your priorities because, if properly maintained, it can serve you longer. You may experience problems with your plumbing system once in a while. It might be a leaking toilet, a blocked sink, low water pressure, water heater issues, or more. Plumbing issues can be inconvenient, so knowing how to avoid them can be helpful. On the other hand, repairs can be costly. Thus, it would be best to learn how to solve some concerns to save cash on hiring a professional.
This article offers some plumbing tips you should know as a homeowner. These will help you prevent problems with your pipes and teach you how to do simple repairs.
Here are three tips to know:
1. Never Ignore Leaks
Leaks are a common plumbing problem many homeowners deal with. You may encounter a dripping tap, pipe, or running toilet. If you do, don’t ignore the issue and hope it goes away. Usually, leaks cause significant water wastage and result in a high utility bill. Leaks also promote mold growth. This alga causes allergy-like reactions like headaches, fatigue, runny nose, wheezing, sneezing, and difficulty breathing. Mold could also trigger asthma symptoms. Moreover, leaks may indicate a problem with your plumbing system. So, if you ignore the dripping, a small issue could escalate. Unrepaired leaks can damage your floors, ceiling, and walls.
If you encounter a dripping pipe, shut off the main water valve and use tape or epoxy gum to stop the leak. This is a temporary fix that will save water before your plumber arrives. If you’re dealing with dripping taps, shut off the main water valve first, then call a professional. You can also consider troubleshooting a leaky tap on your own. This requires unscrewing the tap’s cover plate, removing the stem and jumper valve, and replacing the corroded washer and the old O-Ring with new ones. After that, you can put the parts back in their rightful places. If you encounter a running toilet, you can fix the issue yourself. This might require you to replace the old fill valve with a new one. Alternatively, turn off your home’s main water supply valve, then call a professional. If you choose to do plumbing repairs, be sure you can do a good job. A do-it-yourself (DIY) fix without the right knowledge can severely damage your plumbing system.
2. Learn To Locate The Main Water Shut-Off Valve
Every property has its main water shut-off valve. In case of a plumbing emergency like a burst pipe or a flood, turning this component off helps to reduce water wastage and lower the risk of significant property damage. Therefore, knowing how to locate the main water shut-off valve is essential. You might find this component under your kitchen sink, in the basement, near your water heater, in your crawlspace, or the utility box. In some homes, it may be where the main water line enters the property or near a water meter. You can also check your house’s inspection report to find your main water shut-off valve. If any of these ways don’t work, call your real estate agent, inspector, or a professional plumber to help you locate it.
3. Know How To Prevent Clogs
A clogged drain can be an inconvenience in your home. It can be a breeding ground for harmful bacteria, increasing the likelihood of water-borne illnesses spreading. Also, odor from drain clogs can make your home uncomfortable. Watching what goes down your kitchen sink, toilet, and bathroom or shower drain will help prevent clogs in your home. Some of the things that can cause blockage are hair, food waste, feminine products, cotton, soap, grease, fat, oil, diapers, and baby wipes.
Teach your family members what should go down the drains to prevent frequent clogging issues in your home. For instance, they should only flush human waste and tissue paper down the toilet. Also, they should collect hair or pet fur with hand gloves rather than letting it flow down the bathroom or shower drain. Additionally, they should remove tea leaves, vegetables, fruit seeds, and other food remains from utensils before cleaning them in the sink. This must also be the case with grease, oil, and fat. It would be best to buy separate bins for feminine products, diapers, and baby wipes. Drain strainer guards can also help by filtering hair, food waste, and other unwanted substances. This way, these materials won’t go down your drains, causing blockages.
Final Thoughts
Taking proper care of your plumbing system ensures you enjoy excellent water flow in and out of your home at all times with minimal interruptions. This practice also extends the life of your pipes. In this article, you’ve learned essential plumbing tips you should know as a homeowner. As advised, you should learn how to locate your main water shut-off valves and prevent drain clogs. Also, never ignore leaks. These tips will help you prevent plumbing problems and guide you on how to resolve issues quickly before they escalate.
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