Even if you’ve lived in your present home for a long time or are moving into your first home, there have been some things every homeowner must realize about a home’s pipe work.
Even though there is no way to totally avoid a piping emergency, there are a few simple plumbing recommendations that can help keep your house functioning well and reduce the chances of one occurring.
Find out where your home’s major water shutoff switch is located
When there is a sewage emergency, turning off the water supply is vital because water supply can do considerable damage in a short amount of time.
Please remember that the location of the shutoff valve will vary depending on the layout of your property, but it is normally near to where the primary water supply enters your home. If you’ve a basements or crawl space, it’s usually near the very front of the home on an external perimeter, but if you’ve had a slab, it could be near the water heater or out in the garage.
The shutoff valve to a residence may usually be turned off by hand. Because an emergency may develop while you are away, be sure your family knows where it is and how and where to turn it off should the need (or water) arises.
Give your water heater a check-up once a year
You may not realize it, but muck can build up in the bottom of your heater over time. If you get your water from the well, the sludge is usually made up of sand and other particles that turns up through the pipes; if you get your water from a provincial source, the silt is made up of minerals like calcium carbonate which are pulled out of the water and then settles to the bottom when the water heats up to extremely high temperatures.
Going to drain several gallons from of the water heater tanks can help to slow and even stop this cycle since the silt acts as an agent that causes corrosion the water heater, making it perform less efficiently.
Examine the hoses on your washing machine for signs of damage and tear
Out of reach doesn’t always equal out of mind whenever it comes to the water pipes on your washing machine. It might spell disaster if your appliances hoses are completely worn and you haven’t seen them in a long time. They could be broken and leaky.
When a hose splits in two, you may notice it straight away since water is everywhere; however, if it’s a little leak, it could go undetected for weeks, months, or even years, slowly destroying your walls or flooring. Contact a local plumber Melbourne has some good ones you can check out.
Stop bothersome leaks in the sink and save money
If your kitchen faucet is constantly dripping water, that might not seem like a major concern at first, but that leak will eventually become a larger one, and even if it is only a small drip, it can cost a lot of cash on your hydro bill if you don’t fix it.
These leaks usually occur because the rubber washer in the kitchen faucet has degraded and is no longer providing a proper seal. Changing the old rubber washers with a new one is not only a quick and inexpensive fix, but it also helps the environment by conserving water.