Plumber Tips: Home Plumbing Basics For The New Homeowner | Universal City, TX
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Choosing a plumber can be a difficult process if you are a first-time homeowner and have never had to worry about dealing with plumbing issues before. Being able to just call your landlord any time you think that there are plumbing issues is definitely a perk of renting. However, as a homeowner, you have to learn the basics of plumbing and know the signs of when to call a plumbing company and how to find a plumbing company you can trust. We will take a close look at both of these things to help make the process a little simpler.
While this guide won’t hit on every single plumbing issue that you may face in your Universal City, TX home, because let’s face it, there are a lot more than you could ever imagine, but it will hit on some of the largest ones you will need to face. From leaky pipes in the middle of the night to strange noises from your walls and the difficult task of finding a plumber, you can trust to help you take care of your Universal City, TX home, here is everything you need to know if you are a first-time homeowner that wants to take care of their plumbing system properly.
The Benefits of Regular Plumbing Maintenance
One thing that most homeowners don’t realize at first is that it is a good idea to book a visit with a plumber at least once a year whether or not you are actually in need of plumbing repair. This is because the best way to ward off emergency repair issues is with regular maintenance. Like any other major appliance or system in your home, you can schedule an annual maintenance visit which will include inspection, minor repairs, and thorough cleaning if any clogs are spotted to help you keep your plumbing system working at its top capacity.
Several things occur during plumbing maintenance, all of which are beneficial to keeping water flowing through your pipes without any type of disturbance. For instance, the plumber will look throughout your home to ensure there are no signs of water damage on the walls, ceilings, floors, or cupboards which can indicate that there is a hidden leak under the floorboards of your home.
They will also look closely at all visible pipes and plumbing within your home to look for signs of damage and/or corrosion which can mean a leak or a possible burst pipe in your future. Corrosion can also cause rust and other similar elements to seep into your water supply which is also a large concern that needs to be corrected if noticed.
The plumber will also take a look at all of your toilets to ensure that there are no signs of leakage and check the flush to look for indicators that the toilet may not be operating correctly.
Additionally, the plumber will also take a close look at all faucets and water fixtures throughout your home including those in the laundry room, bathroom, kitchen, around your water heater. They will also look for signs of clogs and take a close look at your garbage disposal for signs of wear or damage. Finally, they will conduct a pressure test that helps them detect leaks and hairline cracks that might otherwise go unnoticed until they burst.
All of this is done within one visit and can help keep your plumbing system working the way it should. Plumbing is a delicate home system because not only will the lack of water make your home inhabitable, but it can cause large amounts of water damage if something goes wrong that can be costly to correct. Therefore, if there is one annual service you want to make sure you book, it is a plumbing maintenance visit.
5 Top Signs You Need to Call a Plumbing Company in Universal City, TX
Do you have the vague idea that something is wrong with your plumbing but you aren’t sure whether or not you should call and schedule a visit with a plumbing company in your Universal, TX home? We have found that most people don’t make up issues with their plumbing. If you are noticing that something is off and have a gut instinct that something is wrong with your home plumbing system, there probably is. That said, there are a few signs that mark a problem for sure. If you notice these top five signs it is in your best interest to call and get assistance from a plumber sooner instead of later. The longer you wait the more you increase the chance of extensive water damage which will instantly cause the costs of repair to skyrocket.
Dripping Faucet
If you are like most people, at some point in your life you have noticed a dripping faucet. While this alone may not seem like a big deal, as a homeowner it is a huge deal because one dripping faucet is all it takes to run your water bill up by a few gallons easily. One little drip per second adds up to 3,000 gallons of water per year, which is a lot of wasted money spent on a water bill. In addition, losing money out of your monthly budget is not the only problem you may have. Sometimes a leaky faucet indicates an issue with the water pressure in your home or other problems that can lead to a larger plumbing problem. For this reason, if you notice a leak in your home instead of looking the other way make sure you call a qualified plumbing company in Universal City, TX.
Sudden Low Water Pressure in Your Home
Water pressure is a big deal to anyone who takes a shower daily. Most people don’t have an extra 20 minutes to spend in the shower to get the soap out of their hair or an extra five minutes to fill a pot with water to boil. While all homes have a standard variation in their water pressure, there is a point when it becomes ridiculous. Low water pressure is not just something that comes with an older home, it is something that occurs when there is a major water issue within the home and it needs to be explored promptly.
It is even more concerning if you have never had water pressure in the past and suddenly wake up to little or no water pressure in your home. This can indicate an issue with your main water line or with several other plumbing issues within your home. For this reason, make sure you call a plumbing company right away if you are worried about the water pressure in your home.
No Hot Water or Not Water Period
Waking up to no hot water can be a nightmare, waking up to a home without any hot water period can be even more of a nightmare. If you find yourself in this situation you need to call a plumber right away because life without water is not sustainable. Even life without hot water is not sustainable as you will not be able to wash clothes, dishes, or even yourself until you get your hot water supply back.
If you suddenly have no hot water then there is a good chance that the problem reaches back to your water heater. In this case, you will need a trained plumber to come out and take a look at your water heater. Depending on the issue they may be able to offer you a repair option or may suggest hot water tank replacement. This is not something that you should be messing around with. Hot water tanks are complicated, so it is always best to call a plumber and see what the situation really entails.
On the other hand, if you have no water at all in your home then the problem is likely associated with your water main line. If you paid your water bill and checked with your neighbors to discover only your home is having this issue, then you will need a trained plumbing company who can assist with main water line repair. Plumbers have special tools they can use to access the line under your home and see what the issue is.
Backed Up Floor Drain or Sink Drain
A backed-up drain is never a great situation to find yourself in, but as a homeowner, it is almost a guarantee that at one point your sink will back up. When this happens you will definitely want to make sure that you have a plumbing company on speed dial that you can call for help. No one likes seeing sewage come up their drains, but depending on where a clog is located this is a very real issue that occurs for many homeowners.
Usually, this will require two things: a drain cleaning and a drain repair. While cleaning out a drain will remove the clog, if you don’t identify what the issue is that caused the clog you will be in the same spot again soon. This is one reason why it is usually better to choose a plumbing company versus a drain company to solve an issue with clogged drains. While the drain company will be able to effectively clear a clog using brunt force, they will usually not look for the cause of the clog in the first place whereas a plumbing company has specialized tools and advanced knowledge that help them figure out why your drains keep clogging. Unless you want to be dealing with sewage constantly in your home, it makes sense to choose a plumber who can get to the root of the problem from the start.
How to Choose the Right Plumber in Universal City, TX
Whether you need a plumber now to come out and repair an issue or if you just need to find a plumbing company to handle your annual service, it is always better to have a plumbing company picked out before you need their help. If you are new to the Universal City, TX region or are just new to homeownership, the best way to start looking for a new plumbing company is by asking around.
Friends and family members are a great resource when it comes to finding a plumber because they can give you the good and bad of their experiences. They are also the most likely to tell the truth versus other reviews that you may read online. If you don’t have anyone you know in town, ask your neighbors or co-workers for their recommendations.
Of course, the internet has now made it easier than ever to find a plumbing company so use that to your advantage and read reviews and rankings to get a sense of who might be worth trying. An annual service is a great way to try a plumbing company on for size and see if they are a good match for your home and the way that you prefer to conduct business.
Once you pick a few, call and find out if they are licensed, insured, and certified so that you can feel confident when they come out to your home you will be receiving tip-top service from experienced plumbers. The process to become a plumber is long, so if someone is fully certified you can rest assured that they have a large amount of experience to draw from which will help them service your home much better.
If you are ready to find a new plumber, give bluefrog Plumbing + Drain of San Antonio a call. We would be happy to answer any questions you have about our plumbers or our certifications and then book a visit if you need to have your system serviced or repaired.
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