Top 4 Plumbing Disasters and What to Do About Them

Top 4 Plumbing Disasters and What to Do About Them

Plumbing is one of the most integral parts of your home, but one that rarely receives much attention unless homeowner absolutely needs to do something. Unfortunately, a plumbing issue is rarely anything small or insignificant, mostly because by the time you notice there is a plumbing problem, the damage is done and requires a much bigger repair than if you knew up front.

If you know the signals that you might have a plumbing issue, or simply know the most likely areas for plumbing problems to arise, it just might help you to hire a plumbing company to handle any major, and costly, water issue.

Pay attention to these four typical problem-causing things to stay on top of any plumbing issues you might encounter.

1. Kitchens and bathrooms

Two of the most susceptible places in your home for a water or plumbing issue to spring loose is in either the kitchen or the bathroom. Things like broken taps and clogged drains put constant wear and tear on the pipes that supply water to and from the sinks and drains. If you don’t pay attention to a leaky or clogged pipe, then you are asking for trouble.

If you notice that small amounts of water are where they shouldn’t be or that water is collecting in one particular place, don’t ignore it. Things like water stains, soggy surfaces and puddles are never something to overlook.

If you see water pooling where it shouldn’t or appearing where it never did before, it is always a good idea to investigate. If you turn a blind eye to a small problem, it only gets bigger, and, before you know it, you are repairing drywall, ripping out walls, or pulling out sinks.

2. Water heaters

If you have a water heater tank, there are gallons of water sitting idle, round the clock, being heated and waiting for your use. If there are any unnoticed leaks in the tank, not only are you spending an enormous amount of money to heat leaking water, but it could be the calm before the storm.

If you start to notice any problems with the wiring or deterioration in the water heating system, it is important to have it looked at.

Sediment will also build up at the bottom of the tank over time. If you don’t let the water run through it and make sure that it is emptied periodically, it might begin to smell. As the sediment eats away at the tank, it is putting a lot of additional corrosive wear and tear on it. The best thing to do is to watch your water heater carefully for signs of leaks, to empty it periodically and to consider replacing it with a tankless version.

3. Septic and sewer

Although an essential component of your plumbing system, the septic and sewer are rarely thought of until something goes wrong. To make sure that things don’t get backed up, you should have your sewer and septic maintained by a plumber about every two years.

Since both the septic and the sewer are responsible for taking waste material away from your home, they are susceptible to particle build-up, which can cause the pipes to break or to back up, both of which are nasty accidents. To keep them running smoothly, make sure to have the pipes cleaned regularly and to watch for signs of a slowly emptying drain or toilet.

4. Outdoor plumbing

There are almost always outdoor supply lines that service your backyard and outdoor spaces. If you aren’t careful, they can freeze in the winter and flood your basement, or erode throughout the year and flood your yard and your water bill.

If you notice that your water bill has gone up tremendously and you haven’t been excessively using your water, that might be a sign of an exterior leak. Make sure to run your pipes when the weather dips below freezing, so that you don’t have a busted pipe on your hands that can wreak havoc to the exterior and interior of your home.

Plumbing is an essential part of your home’s inner workings, but an often ignored one. If you ignore your plumbing long enough, it will do something to get your attention, and, likely, that something won’t be pretty. Make sure to have your plumbing regularly maintained and watch for signs of a small problem before it becomes a big one.