Simple Bits Of Advice Your Plumber Wants You To Follow | Universal City, TX
A good plumber will always be knowledgeable about everything there is to know in what refers to the water pipes, drainage lines, sewers, water heaters and much more that provide clean water to your home in Universal City, TX, while removing waste in a safe and efficient manner. It is quite literally their job to fully understand what goes on beneath your home whenever you call in about a problem with your sewage lines, and they should also be able to provide the best solutions for plumbing issues, such as leaks in your bathroom or kitchen sinks, backed up toilets, and even when your home’s water heater starts acting up.
On the other hand, it would be illogical to ask for you to know all about plumbing, and it would be absurd to expect you to understand all of the ins and outs of the way your home’s plumbing and sewage systems work, unless you have received the same type of training a plumber does. Even so, it doesn’t mean you should just navigate through life without even the most rudimentary understanding of how your home’s plumbing works.
It is with this in mind that we have created this list of things every plumber in Universal City, TX wishes you would know. This knowledge is important to you as a homeowner because it will give you the tools you need to prevent large plumbing mishaps, at the same time that it will make it easier for you to understand why certain plumbing problems happen and what you can do to prevent them. Keep in mind we are not suggesting you fix any plumbing problems on your own, quite the opposite. If you ever encounter any type of problem with your Universal City, TX home’s plumbing, it is always in your best interest to give a professional plumber a call for help. So, let’s get down to business and find out what every plumber would like you to know.
1. Your Water Heater Isn’t Immortal
On average, a good quality water heater should be between 8 and 12 years. At the end of this time, you should hire a good plumber to replace your home’s water heater in order to avoid incurring in costly repairs and possible damages to your home, not to mention that an old water heater could put your family’s health and well-being at risk, due to the numerous problems that old water heaters could present.
A good way to keep your water heater working efficiently for as long as possible is to provide it with a good maintenance schedule. Any plumber can tell you that one of the main benefits of maintenance is that it will help you save a lot of money in the long run. Scheduling regular inspections will also allow you to detect any potential problems before they happen, while allowing your water heater to continue working effectively while you plan for its replacement.
2. It Doesn’t Matter What the Wrapper Says, Never Flush Wipes Down Your Toilet
Yes, we know the wrapper says “flushable wipes“, but the term is actually very far from the truth. All wipes are made out of some sort of fabric, even the flushable ones. Ask any plumber, and they can tell you the enormous headache these wipes can create. From clogs, to burst sewage lines, flushable wipes are everything but flushable. If you want to flush anything down your toilet, make sure it’s toilet paper. Anything else, including flushable wipes should go into a trash can. If you insist on flushing wipes you should be prepared to call an emergency plumber in the middle of the night when your toilet starts overflowing because of the clog these wipes can create.
3. When You Buy a New Home Have the Sewer Lines Inspected Before You Close the Deal
Because sewer lines are usually installed underground they are often forgotten, until something goes terribly wrong. In order to prevent any smelly problems or walking into a living room flooded with sewage in the middle of the night, whenever you purchase a new home, or if you have lived in yours for a while without having had the sewage lines inspected, you should always call a plumbing professional to have them checked out.
Damaged sewer lines can be expensive to repair, so you shouldn’t purchase a new Universal City, TX, home if it has any serious issues in this aspect. If you are determined to buy the property anyway, make sure you are clear on the consequences of not getting the sewer line repaired. Having a plumber perform an inspection will give you a good idea of what, if anything, is wrong with the sewer line, and how much it will cost to have it fixed. So never close on the purchase of a new home until you have had the sewer inspected first.
4. Regular Testing of the Quality of Your Water Is Important
Just because your water looks clear, it doesn’t mean it actually is good enough to drink. Regularly testing the quality of your water will allow you to know if your home’s water has been contaminated by any number of pollutants, including sewage, chemicals, pesticides, and more. Knowing this will help you find a solution before you or your family start developing health issues that could include gastrointestinal disorders, or worse.
Even though the water that comes out of the taps of most American homes is safe to drink, it is always a good idea to test the water instead of simply taking an assertion of quality at face value. Accidents happen, and they can cause your local water supply to become contaminated for a long time before anybody notices, so, it’s always in your family’s best interest to test the water they are drinking before they start feeling the effects of any undetected contamination.
5. Don’t Try to Save Money By Omitting Shut-Off Valves
Trying to save money by cutting corners where you shouldn’t is never a good idea. Shut off valves are one of those things that will be sorely missed when you need them and should never not be installed in your home’s plumbing system. Think of shut off valves as the only way to prevent costly damages to your home’s structure and your other belongings when a pipe bursts. Without a shut off valve you will end up with water spraying all over the place, ruining your most precious belongings while you find a plumber that can help you. Shut off valves are designed to cut off your home’s water supply in case it is needed. In case a pipe bursts, you can stop the water from causing further damage by using the valve to cut off the water flooding your home, which is why you should never not include them in your plumbing system. Make sure you always know where they are located so you can find them easily in an emergency. Shut off valves are usually installed in basements or in the outside utility area of your home, so make sure to check those locations first.
6. When It Comes to Mold or Water Damage, Playing Ostrich Is Not a Good Idea
Any plumber will tell you that ignoring the obvious will only land you in deep water, especially when you are dealing with mold or water damage. At the first sign of either of these two problems, give your plumber a call to inspect your home and find the source before it becomes so severe that you have to vacate your house.
7. The Hose of Your Washing Machine Can Be a Huge Problem
Whenever a plumber connects your washing machine hose he will do it straight into your home’s main water line. This could pose a problem when you are not home and the hose bursts. Not only will it make a horrific mess, it can actually end up damaging your home’s structure or foundation, so make sure you visually inspect the hose regularly and replace it every 5 years, or sooner if you notice signs of wear or tears along it.
8. Installing a Tankless Water Heater Can Save You Money
Because of their high energy efficiency, compact size, and lower price, tankless water heaters are a great way to save on space while reducing your power bill. If you are considering giving your home an upgrade, talk to your plumber about the pros and cons of installing a tankless water heater.
9. Toys Are Your Toilet’s Worst Enemy
As any parent of a rambunctious toddler can tell you, children love flushing the toilet. They love it even more when they see a small toy go around and around the bowl before it disappears down the drain. But, just because the toy is no longer visible, it doesn’t mean it will eventually end up in the sewer. The most likely possibility is that it will get stuck somewhere along the drain pipe, causing a major clog that will be difficult, if not impossible to remove. Trying to remove the toy yourself isn’t a good idea either, especially if it’s not within the immediate reach of your hand, and you can end up creating an even larger problem. So, if your child is flushing their toys, call your plumber and then start childproofing everything.
10. Never Pour Grease Down the Drain
Especially not bacon grease. When any type of grease comes in contact with water, it will congeal, creating a disgustingly sticky trap for anything else that goes down the drain. This will create layer upon layer of gunk in your pipes, which will eventually clog your drains, causing them to overflow. Even worse, grease clogs will require much more expensive repairs, and in some cases are so bad, the entire pipeline will have to be replaced by your plumber. So, do yourself a favor and dispose of grease another way.
11. Small Actions Can Stop Your Pipes From Freezing
When winter arrives, the first thing you should do is make sure you have turned off all of your outdoor water taps. At the same time, leave one of your indoor taps slightly turned on, so as to allow a slow drip to come through. This will stop your pipes from freezing in the middle of a winter storm, which will cause them to burst when they thaw out. If the temperatures drop too low, you can always ask your plumber to inspect your pipes for freezing before they start increasing again in order to ensure you won’t have any problems as they thaw.
12. No Matter How Big or Small, Leaks Can Cause Untold Trouble
If you think you can simply ignore that dripping faucet every night, think again. Even the smallest leaks can cause enormous amounts of damage. For starters, a dripping faucet can cost you more than 800 gallons of wasted water every single day you let it go. This, of course, doesn’t include the potential damage it can cause to your Universal City, TX home if it gets larger. So, make sure you get leaks repaired right away before they turn into an expensive problem.
13. Low Water Pressure Does Not Have to Be a Fact of Life
When your Universal City, TX home’s water pressure is so low it takes you an hour to rinse off in the shower, you will have to contact a plumbing professional for help. There is no reason for you to live like that, so call an expert and enjoy taking a shower with the right water pressure.
Are You Looking for a Plumbing Professional?
When your home starts experiencing plumbing issues, regardless of how simple or small they may appear, your best bet is to always call a professional to evaluate and repair the problem before it grows and causes serious damage. If you are in Universal City, TX and find yourself in need of a plumber, don’t hesitate to give bluefrog Plumbing + Drain of San Antonio a call, and let us know how we can be of service today!
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