9 Helpful Plumbing Tips From An Emergency Plumber | San Antonio, TX
Calling an emergency plumber in San Antonio, TX to take care of a plumbing emergency can be overwhelming and stressful especially when the problem is associated with flooding in your home. Imagine how much it would cost you in repair and replacements when some of your home appliances are submerged in water. You may also likely call restoration companies to prevent mold growth in your home. In this article, we’ve compiled a long list straight from an emergency plumber. The tips can help you prevent plumbing emergencies to help you save money and protect your home from water damage.
Helpful Tips:
1. Install Shut-Off Valves Close to Plumbing Appliances
During a plumbing emergency, the first thing you need to do is not call a plumber right away but turn off the water to prevent further damage and protect your home. The shut-off valves must be within reach to make it easier to turn off the water. If these devices are located in the basement and you’re on the second floor of your home, it will take time to turn them off. Also, when the basement floods and you have the shut-off valve installed in that area, it will be impossible to turn off your water.
An emergency plumber advises you to install these devices near your water heater, washing machine, dishwasher, plumbing pipes and other plumbing appliances. This way you won’t have to travel to the basement to turn off your water.
Once these devices are installed, we recommend you test them first to ensure they actually work. Just try to turn them off and then check if it indeed turned off your water. When it doesn’t work, get in touch with an emergency plumber in San Antonio, TX to help you resolve the problem.
2. Don’t Postpone Repairs or Inspections
A plumbing emergency doesn’t usually just occur right away. Fortunately, they happen only because a homeowner decided to postpone repairs and plumbing inspections that were necessary. An emergency plumber recommends you never postpone any repairs or inspections to prevent a costly repair. For example, if you suspect there might be something wrong with the washing machine hose, inspect it right away. If you suspect the water heater tank could be faulty, get in touch with an emergency plumber in San Antonio, TX the soonest possible time.
When you decide to postpone any repairs, these minor problems could actually progress into something bigger, something that will cost you a lot of money down the road. The only way to prevent these from happening is when you call an emergency plumber at the onset of the problem. Don’t wait a few months to correct the problem.
bluefrog Plumbing + Drain + HVAC of San Antonio employs licensed and experienced plumbers who can help you. When you call us, our plumbing experts will thoroughly inspect your plumbing system to help us give you a proper diagnosis. Don’t worry, we have all the tools we need to properly carry out the job. After a thorough diagnosis, we will also provide you with cost-effective plumbing solutions to permanently resolve the problem. Most importantly, bluefrog Plumbing + Drain + HVAC of San Antonio operates around the clock, which means we’ll always be here, especially when there is a plumbing emergency.
An emergency plumber will always be available when a plumbing pipe burst or when your water heater tank leaks water. Call us at your earliest convenience and our professional team will quickly dispatch an emergency plumber to your location.
3. Take Care of Your Plumbing Systems
A homeowner will be less likely to experience problems with his plumbing when he is proactive about ensuring everything is in excellent shape. An emergency plumber in San Antonio, TX recommends you keep a plumbing checklist, so that you know which to check daily, weekly or monthly. Do this especially when you’re running a commercial property. It can be difficult to spot problems if you don’t periodically inspect your plumbing. With regular inspections, it would be easier to look for problems and resolve them in a timely manner. You can also prevent calling a plumber to tackle a costly plumbing emergency.
Apart from doing inspections on your own, we also suggest getting a professional plumbing inspection from a licensed plumber. An emergency plumber is equipped with the right tools and experience to check for problems that can’t be seen with the naked eye. He will be able to detect issues that can progress into something serious. You can prevent it by calling an emergency plumber, for routine plumbing inspections.
And this is where we come in. Our plumbing experts at bluefrog Plumbing + Drain + HVAC of San Antonio will ensure all appliances and plumbing fixtures are in excellent shape. We’ll test them during the service call and if something comes up, we will try to resolve this on the same day. Call us today if you need service and our plumbers are more than happy to assist.
4. Invest in ENERGY STAR Appliances and WaterSense Fixtures
Do you want to save more money with your plumbing? You can get more savings if you replace regular plumbing appliances and fixtures with energy-efficient and water-efficient products. Take note that these products can be expensive though, however, you can save more money in the long run because the savings can add up.
One appliance you should consider installing is a tankless water heater. Compared to the regular water heater, you’re not wasting more energy with the tankless unit because you consume energy when you turn on the tap. With the conventional water heater, the unit will need to be constantly on or it will take time to heat the water again. If you decide to replace your old water heater with the tankless unit, you won’t be needing a bigger space for it as you can just install the tankless water heater on the bathroom wall. The tankless unit also lasts longer, about 20 years, while a regular water heater only lasts 10 years. If you’re thinking of installing one for your home, ensure you only hire a licensed emergency plumber to install the unit to prevent a more costly repair in the future.
5. Protect Exposed Plumbing Pipes
This tip can help prevent flooding in your home. As a homeowner, part of your responsibility is to ensure your home is protected. You can do this by properly insulating your plumbing pipes during winter. When they’re not protected, the water inside these pipes will likely freeze and you won’t be able to use the shower or the faucet. If you don’t call a plumber in San Antonio, TX right away to thaw the frozen pipes, these pipes can expand and then burst.
The last thing you want in your home is to deal with flooding and you can avoid this by properly insulating the pipes. Simply go to your local hardware store to purchase some insulating materials. You can also open the faucet so that hot water can flow through the pipes and prevent the water from freezing. Don’t forget to also turn on the heating so that warm air can also warm the pipes. If you need further help with this, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with an emergency plumber in your area.
Remember, water flooding may not be included in your homeowner’s insurance especially when you didn’t take extra precautions to prevent a flooding emergency. This means you’ll need to shoulder all the costs from repairs to replacements. You can avoid this by being proactive in taking care of your plumbing. So when the temperature starts dropping, make sure you insulate the pipes right away. Don’t wait for a major plumbing emergency to occur before you do this or it might be too late.
6. Replace Inefficient Appliances
Old appliances won’t just cost you more money they may also end up damaging your home. For example, a water heater tank that’s more than 10 years old and is no longer that efficient may likely break and if you don’t do something about this, you can end up with a flooded basement. You can prevent this with heater maintenance. Part of the maintenance is to flush out the sediment building up at the bottom of the tank. Do this once a year or more than once if you have hard water in your plumbing. Failure to do this can result in a catastrophic plumbing emergency that will cost you more money.
If you have old washing machine hoses, a plumber recommends you replace them with stainless steel braided hoses because the latter last longer and are less susceptible to damage. For installation, do ensure to only hire a plumber in the area. Incorrect installation can also lead to other problems with your plumbing. Do you have more questions about how to take better care of your plumbing? Don’t hesitate to get in touch with us today or call us if you need plumbing services for your home or office.
7. Watch Your Home’s Water Pressure
Do you have a water pressure gauge? You’ll need this device to help you test your home’s water pressure. And it must be within 40-60 PSI. If the water pressure in your home is less than 40, this can indicate a leak in your plumbing. When it’s too high, make sure to contact an emergency plumber to help you resolve the water pressure problem. When the water pressure is too high, this can severely damage the pipes and cause them to break. If you don’t want a flooded home, call a plumber today to check your home’s water pressure.
If the water pressure is too low, check first if you’re only having issues with this on one plumbing fixture as that could likely be just a clogged aerator. When the problem comes from all fixtures, there is likely a leak in your plumbing. We suggest calling a plumber for professional leak detection. You can also try doing a water meter test to determine if there’s indeed a leak in your plumbing. Do two separate readings and compare the second result with the first one. If the figures are different, this means there’s a leak in your plumbing. Try to look for any signs of leaks or hidden leaks and get in touch with an emergency plumber right away for assistance. If you can’t find anything else, get professional leak detection.
8. Monitor the Water Bill
Is your water bill this month suddenly a little higher? This indicates a leak in your plumbing. When your bill has skyrocketed, we suggest you get in touch with an emergency plumber in San Antonio, TX immediately so they can thoroughly inspect your plumbing system for any signs of leaks. You can also do this by checking all plumbing appliances and fixtures for any signs of damage or wear and tear. If you suspect a problem, get professional help immediately.
9. Get Professional Drain Cleaning
How healthy are your drains? While installing sink strainers to catch debris, food particles and hair can help, as well as installing a garbage disposal to help you better manage your food waste, an emergency plumber recommends you get professional drain cleaning. It’s an effective way to ensure your pipes are in top condition. Do this especially when you’re running a commercial property. Call bluefrog Plumbing + Drain + HVAC of San Antonio right away if you need help with professional drain cleaning service.
Get in Touch with bluefrog Plumbing + Drain + HVAC of San Antonio
Do you need the services of an emergency plumber for your home or business in San Antonio, TX? We’re just here to help. Our plumbers are experienced and all certified; they can tackle any plumbing problem including plumbing emergencies. We’re also available 24/7 to cater to those needing immediate services.
When your water heater breaks or when the pipe bursts, call us right away for an appointment. bluefrog Plumbing + Drain + HVAC of San Antonio is more than happy to help.
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