One of the most unwelcome troubles that can hit home is a plumbing emergency. Depending on where the problem is and the scope of the issue, the solution may be as drastic as tearing down walls or floors to get access to certain pipes.
If you want to avoid these kinds of problems, a lot of them are preventable as long as you treat your plumbing right.
When Fixtures Are Leaking
Of the emergencies we’re covering, this is the one that could be argued might not be an emergency or at least a serious one.
While leaking taps aren’t going to damage or threaten your home, they are going to make a lot of noise that can be irritating. They’re also going to cost you money with unnecessary expenses added to your bill.
Before you fix a leaky fixture, try simply keeping your taps turned tighter. If that doesn’t do the trick, then one or two small, easily replaceable parts in your tap may be at fault.
The washer or the O-ring are like light bulbs in that; eventually, time will cause these parts to wear out and need replacing. Luckily they’re both cheap to buy and easy to switch out, so get the parts, get a wrench, and you’re done!
When the Drain Is Blocked
A blocked drain is when you fill a sink, decide to empty it out again, pull the plug on the drain, and the water doesn’t drain away but instead remains in the sink.
It means that somewhere in the pipe, there is an obstruction that now prevents water from emptying out into the drainage pipe—and ultimately the sewer—the way it is supposed to.
Often, homeowners will get plenty of warnings that a blocked drain is coming. The build-up is usually gradual, not sudden, so as a partial blockage forms, a “slow drain” occurs.
If you notice that your water is emptying out of a sink slower than usual, this means a full blockage is on the way. If you ignore this warning, you’ve accepted that you’d rather have a blocked drain, and deal with a more expensive problem, than take a few minutes with drain cleaner or a plunger to solve the problem now.
The Toilet Overflows
The single most common cause of a toilet backup and overflowing waste out of the toilet and onto the floor is ignoring a toilet’s intended purpose.
It is designed only to get rid of human waste and toilet paper, which has been manufactured to break when in contact with water.
Don’t flush other matters down the toilet. Even paper towels from a kitchen can jam a drainage pipe, as they were designed to retain their structure when they get wet, meaning a paper towel build-up can easily stick in a toilet.
A Broken Pipe
It takes extreme circumstances to cause a pipe to burst. Very old pipes, such as cast iron drainage pipes that are 75-100 years old, may break simply due to age and metal fatigue.
On the other hand, if you keep your water pipes at too high a pressure over the years, this can eventually cause them to break.
Keep your pipes operating within tolerance levels, and you’ll be fine. Everyone that lives in Orlando, FL, just wants to enjoy a relaxing, convenient time at home.
Your plumbing doesn’t have to become a problem if you just take some preventive measures.