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Your home may be your castle, but unfortunately, for the vast majority of us, that doesn’t mean we have butlers, maids and other servants to take care of things in the house. As a homeowner, you’re usually “on the hook” when something goes wrong and needs to be addressed or fixed.
For most of us, however, that can be a pretty big deal if the something that goes wrong is plumbing. Plumbing issues can get really expensive if we let problems get out of control. If you want to prevent the more common plumbing emergencies from burning a hole in your wallet, we’ve got some tips.
Those Leaking Fixtures
Most people aren’t likely to find a dripping fixture to be a major threat. Luckily, most of the time, this problem isn’t serious.
True, you may find yourself irritated if the constant dripping is within earshot, but the real issue with leaks is that this counts as water that’s “used,” so it will show up on your bill at the end of the month.
The best way to prevent leaks is to make sure that your taps are firmly turned to “off.” If you still see leaks after that, you’ve probably got a small part within the fixture that has worn out through years of use and needs replacement. Two parts, in particular, the washer or the O-ring, are usually the cause of leaks but are very cheap to buy, and easy to switch out with a wrench and a few minutes of time.
Drains That Get Blocked
If you fill up a sink, then pull the plug on the drain, and the water just stays there, that’s a blocked drain.
This happens when matter gets caught in the drainage pipe instead of flowing down it, and out into the sewer.
It could be food if the block is in the kitchen sink, or it could be hair if it’s the bathtub or bathroom sink.
Most of the time, your plumbing will warn you well ahead of time this is happening. You’ll first get what’s called a “slow drain,” where you notice water is emptying out slower than it used to. At this point, you should really consider either using a plunger or plumbing snake to clear out the obstruction.
Toilets That Overflow
The #1 cause of toilets overflowing is people deciding to use their toilets as garbage disposal units, and flushing things down that shouldn’t be there. A toilet is designed to eliminate human waste and toilet paper.
Anything else, even paper towels from the kitchen, can catch on the pipe, jam things up, and eventually back up onto your bathroom floor. Don’t flush foreign objects down your toilet!
A Burst Pipe
It takes unusual conditions for a pipe to burst or break. Age can be a factor, especially if you’ve got older, cast iron drainage pipes in your home that may be 100 years old or more!
Another issue most people in Florida don’t have to worry about is the temperature dropping so low that it causes water in pipes to freeze.
The expansion of water into ice can cost pipes to rupture, but insulating pipes usually takes care of this.
Most the time, life in New Port Richey, FL takes care of itself. But you can make the life of your plumbing last longer by taking some precautions to prevent these emergencies from happening.
