Sudden plumbing disasters can cause thousands of dollars to repair and may cost thousands of more dollars in damages to other parts of your home. These disasters are financial headaches, to say the least, but, fortunately, are also entirely preventable in most cases. Most major plumbing disasters don’t come out of anywhere.
There are always signs and symptoms leading up to the big event, even if you can’t spy on them yourself. While you may not be a professional plumber yourself, there are steps you can take to reduce the likelihood of a plumbing disaster happening in your home. Follow these 7 tips to keep your plumbing in good shape in the coming years.
1. Invest in Regular Inspections for Your Water Heater
Investing in regular inspections and getting set up with a trustworthy contractor for ongoing, hassle-free maintenance is crucial to keeping your home’s plumbing in top shape, especially when it comes to your hot water heater. Your water heater is used multiple times on a daily basis, and is a critical part of your home’s everyday operations and comfort.
That’s why this appliance should be inspected on a yearly basis to ensure that the entire system is working properly. These appliances can work for a decade or more with proper maintenance, but sediment buildup and other issues can cause premature failure, leaks and other problems if left unchecked for too long. The pros at Day & Night Air Conditioning, Heating and Plumbing are here to help ensure that never happens with regular, thorough inspections and repairs for water heaters of all shapes and sizes.
2. Upgrade Hoses and Fixtures
While everyone likes to imagine that their plumbing components will last forever, the unfortunate truth is that some parts simply aren’t built to last. For example, rubber hoses decay over time, cracking and leading to leaks and other issues. Consider having old rubber hoses replaced with metallic ones for better durability. Copper or stainless steel hoses are popular options for replacement hoses, and many metallic materials are shown to last for up to 15 years without incident. It’s always better to invest in this upgrade sooner rather than later to avoid potential leaks and water damage throughout your home.
3. Prevent Clogs
Clogged kitchen and bathroom sinks are among the most common plumbing issues. Hair, food particles, soap and more become trapped in drains, leading to slow draining or even still, standing water that’s unsanitary and unsightly at best. Fortunately, many homeowners can unclog sinks with a plunger from the hardware store.
However, prevention is preferable in most cases because most unclogging methods can cause damage to pipes over time. Avoid emptying oil or other fats into the kitchen sink, and install a sink trap in both the kitchen and bathroom to keep hair, soap, and small food particles from entering the drain. The best way to handle clogs is to prevent them from ever forming in the first place.
4. Be Prepared for an Emergency
In the event that a plumbing disaster does arise, you’ll need to turn off the main water supply quickly in order to mitigate the damage to your home. Take time to familiarize yourself with where the shut off valve is on your home. Usually, it can be found near where your home’s water meter is installed.
Additionally, you’ll need to take the time to maintain the valve, to ensure it’s still accessible and easy to turn so you never find yourself struggling to turn off the water in a pinch. Because the majority of water valves aren’t used for months or even years at a time, they can rust in place, or may even freeze when the temperatures drop at night. Ensure your valve is both easy to reach and easy enough to turn so you can deal with plumbing emergencies quickly and easily when and if they do arise.
5. Invest in Pipe Insulation
Water pipes that run through exterior walls are at risk of freezing and bursting when the cold weather rolls in. This is one of the leading causes of water damage within the US, and continues to take homeowners by surprise each and every year. While Phoenix isn’t exactly known for its chilly temperatures, the desert climate can dip well below freezing once the sun goes down.
Therefore, it’s always a wise investment to have key pipes in your home’s exterior walls insulated against the cold. Ideally, this insulation should extend all the way to the outdoor spigot to give you the best possible protection against frozen pipes. Not every pipe will need to be insulated. It’s always a good idea to have an inspection done and to get the input of professionals before investing in this upgrade to your home’s plumbing.
6. Consider Alternative Drain Cleaning Methods
One of the most common ways to unclog pipes is to simply pour a half bottle of store-bought drain cleaner in and wait. While this method is certainly effective, it could cause serious damage to your pipes over time, which in turn leads to a whole host of other potential issues, including leaks. While prevention is the best solution for drain clogs, it does little to solve the problem of a drain that’s already been clogged up with food or hair. Instead of relying on chemical drain cleaners, take the opportunity to connect with the plumbing professionals from Day & Night to restore your drains to pristine condition. With professional knowledge and the assistance of specialized industry tools, these trained techs can remove even the most stubborn drain quickly and without damaging your existing plumbing.
7. Schedule Regular Maintenance and Inspections
The best way to prevent severe plumbing disasters in your home is to schedule a professional for regular plumbing maintenance and inspection of your entire plumbing system. Having a trained set of eyes checking your system from water valve to faucet is the best way to catch plumbing problems early on, so they can be repaired before they become serious issues that damage your home and wreak havoc on your budget.
Some contractors offer hassle-free maintenance subscription plans that cover you for annual inspections, drain cleanings and even minor repairs. Setting up stress-free maintenance and getting an excellent financial deal has never been easier.
The Right Team for Your Plumbing & Drain Clearing Needs
While you can take many of these steps on your own, there’s nothing like having a team of trusted professionals on your side to keep your home’s plumbing pristine over the years.
Contact Day & Night Air Conditioning, Heating and Plumbing to learn more about the maintenance and repair options we offer. When you choose to work with us, you’ll enjoy working with a highly trained and experienced team that’s as dedicated to keeping your plumbing clean and functioning as you are.
Whether you’re in the market for a simple drain cleaning in Phoenix, AZ, or you require new plumbing installation and upgrades, we’re here to ensure you get the quality results you deserve with hassle-free maintenance plans, quality work and everyday deals.