Extreme Weather Can Be Hard On Your Pipes
Many areas are plagued with ever constant and changing weather. Those of us know the heartache of what it is like to go outside one day in a T-shirt and a winter jacket the very next in the middle of Spring. These temperature fluctuations not only wreak havoc on our cars, our wardrobe, (our temperament) but also our plumbing. One of the most important functions of your dwelling is the plumbing, meaning if your plumbing doesn’t work right then a lot of other things will go wrong with your residence. Furthermore, bad plumbing can cost you outrageous amounts of money, not just in repairing your plumbing but also in unseen cost like water damage, and possible health issues that leaks might cause. It is important to establish; what are the most common problems plumbers face, and how can I fix them? If it is possible to isolate and locate potential plumbing problems, you can address the problem before it becomes out of control.
Not only is it important to isolate the problems with your plumbing, but it is also good to know what is going on as well. These problems are meant to inform you of possible problems and little solutions that you can try before you call a plumber. These are not meant to fix all your plumbing needs, nor should you even attempt a massive plumbing job without consulting a licensed or trained professional. Below is a list of problems the majority of plumbers get called to a house to inspect:
Frozen Pipes– Frozen pipes are a major problem due to the fluctuating temperatures of winter. This past winter of 13-14 was especially brutal, leaving many covered with ice! Vacationing in warmer climates, or just trying to stay warm without spending a fortune on heat, a lot of individuals’ pipes froze. Unfortunately, once this issue happens, it is impossible to fix without calling a professional plumber. This is because once a pipe has frozen, cracking can occur.
In order to fix it, you have to open the wall, isolate the frozen pipe, remove the pipe, warm it up, and then run water through to see if it is cracked. If the pipe is cracked it will have to be replaced. If you do not go through these steps with a trained plumber, then you might be letting water run right through your walls. This water will grow stagnant, allow mold growth, and potentially harm your family. It will also lead to massive water damage causing you to replace entire walls and insulation. Right now, you can get pipe warmers and insulation put around the entire pipe. This way if your heat goes out, or if you are out of town, next winter you don’t return to broken, cracking, and frozen pipes.
Sump Pump– Once the snow melts, the rain comes. Due to the increase in water flow, many people have noticed that their once dry basements are now being flooded. A sump pump works like a reverse toilet. In a toilet, once the level goes up to certain height water is stopped and not allowed to flow into the tank anymore. With a sump pump, once the level reaches a certain height, it will suck the water out till the lever is lowered again. If the lever is always in an upright position it will continue to run even if there is no water to suck out of the basement. This is the main reason for replacing a sump pump so early. Plumbers recommend that you replace your sump pump every 8-10 years to ensure that it is in working order. In order to prevent a call into your local plumber, you can check your float trigger for debris. After that is inspected check the main valves. These valves are one-way valves if they get clogged it will ruin the pump. Improper installation is also another thing that can cause a sump pump to go haywire, so if you want your sump pump installed correctly reach for the phone to contact one of our plumbers.
Shower Plumbing– One of the main issues with shower plumbing is that most of it is hidden within the walls. Unlike toilet plumbing or sink plumbing, shower plumbing pipes and fixtures are mostly hidden from view. Most shower complaints seem to stem from poor draining issues or from low water pressure coming from the shower head.
Poor draining issues can easily be fixed by removing the drain fixture from the bottom of the bathtub. You can try plunging the drain with your plunger to try and get a clog-free. You can also try snaking the drain with a professional plumbing snake to try and remove the blockage. Do not pour de-clogging chemicals down the drain and then plunge it, it will ruin the efficacy of the de-clogging chemicals. To try and release more water pressure from your shower head you can remove the pipe fixture and see how much calcium buildup is in the pipe. Your water pressure is dependent on the friction of water in the pipe. The more calcium deposits and other materials in your water, the less the water can move through the pipe. Use common chemicals inside the pipe to remove any blockages that might be there.
When Should You Call A Plumber or a Plumber Contractor
The main difference between a plumber and a plumbing contractor is the size of the job. If you have a trusted plumber call him every time you can, and they will recommend using a contractor dependent on the amount of work you will have to do to your home. If you are unsure of which you need, look at the amount of work you want to be done to the home. If you are having a toilet issue, a drainage problem, pipes breaking, rest assured your local plumber will be happy to help you out and even give you better lasting value with all those issues than trying to do it yourself. If you are redoing the entire plumbing lines on a floor, remodeling the house, or installing new plumbing lines for an addition to your home, then call a plumbing contractor. Use your trusted plumber to ask for a recommendation on a great contractor. Most of the time, plumbers will steer you in that direction because of the time investment they would have to do in order to finish the complete job.
Finding Plumbers
Once you isolate the source and problem of your plumbing issue it is time to call a plumber. If you need some great local options look on this site or refer to your Buyer’s Choice: A Guide For Consumers. Find your local and trusted plumber as soon as possible to not let these issues fester and grow worse over time!
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