How to Avoid a Plumbing Emergency
by Nicholas Chambers
Every homeowner dreads being faced with a plumbing emergency and having to search frantically for 24/7 emergency plumbing services. To avoid this unwelcome situation, there are some simple steps you can take to minimize your chances of a plumbing disaster.
Fit Mesh Covers over the Drains
Blocked drains are one of the most common causes of emergency plumbing calls. When debris such as soap flakes and hair enter your drains, they clog up. You can avoid the inconvenience of having to use a snaking hose on your drains by fitting mesh drain covers for your bathtub, shower and sinks. Covers of all sizes are inexpensive and readily available from your local hardware store.
Check for Leaks Regularly
Avoid expensive water bills caused by dripping taps and running toilets. These can add up and mount into hundreds of unnecessary dollars. Typically these leaks are reasonably easy to fix.
Maintain a diligent repair schedule. If you are hesitant to tackle the issue yourself, a call to a plumber will be much less expensive for simple tasks rather than in a full-blown emergency.
Regularly inspect the exposed pipes in your home for signs of wear and tear. If there is corrosion, warping or wet spots on the outside of the pipe, contact a qualified plumber to take care of the issue.
Do a Water Heater Flush
About once a year, you should flush your water heater to remove mineral particles that can build up there. If you do this, it will have a much longer life.
If it needs to be flushed urgently, you will hear some banging noises. This is because the water is forced up from beneath the silt layer on the bottom of the tank. Regular flushing prevents the tank from rusting from the build-up of sediment.
Just open the cold water faucet that leads to your hot water tank. Until the water coming out of your hose is clear, let it run for a few minutes. It might take some time so let it run. Even when the water isn't brown and is running clear, there may still be some sediment present.
Clean Showerheads Often
You can use vinegar to clean the showerheads. A build-up of mineral deposits causes shower heads to become blocked over time. This may reduce their effectiveness or possibly totally block them.
Simply unscrew the showerheads and immerse them in vinegar for 24 hours to remove the buildup. It's time to switch out the showerhead if that doesn't work.
Taking a little time to perform routine plumbing maintenance is really worthwhile. You depend on your home's plumbing every day. Simple upkeep can go a long way toward keeping your plumbing clear of blockages, stopping leaks and reducing water damage. For more information, contact a company like Wilkinson Plumbing and Gas PTY LTD.
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About Me
If I didn't know better, I'd think my toddler started each day with a challenge to throw something new and different down the toilet. He has managed to put nearly anything can imagine down the toilet. I have gotten pretty good at figuring out what has gone missing down the loo and whether it's something I can fix or something that I need to call the plumber to help me fix it. This blog is for other mums of toddlers who need to get toys out of the toilet and get the toilet back to working condition as soon as possible!