Prepare Yourself
Several things can go wrong when it comes to plumbing. Even if you take the time to properly maintain your plumbing you may still need to call Charlotte, NC Plumbers. One of the best ways to be prepared for a plumbing problem is to know where everything is. Locate important items in your home, such as your shutoff valve, fuse box, etc. That way you won’t waste time during an emergency trying to locate things as your basement floods.
Every home should have a plunger in each bathroom. A plunger can unclog many smaller plumbing issues. You should also invest in an auger. It can come in very handy when you have a tough clog that a plunger can’t fix. There are many plumbing issues that you can fix on your own, but there are times when you will still need to call Charlotte, NC Plumbers.
Many clogs can be avoided by simply not allowing certain things to get into your drains in the first place. Here are a few things that you should never pour down your drain:
- Eggshells
- Grease
- Flour
- Medication
- Produce stickers
- Coffee grounds
- Paper products
- Flushable Products
- Paint
Although they may seem harmless enough, they all have the potential to cause a clog in your drains and to cause serious damage. Even a small clog can be a very expensive fix.
You can also keep your drains nice and clear by concocting a natural cleaner. You can use simple pantry items such as table salt, baking soda, and vinegar to clean out your pipes. They are natural ingredients and will not damage your drains, but they are effective. Cleaning out your pipes regularly will help to prevent food from building up and will help you to avoid a clog.
Locate Your Shutoff Valve
You don’t have to consider yourself a DIYer to know your way around your home. An important thing to know is how to shut off the main water valve so that if you are faced with an emergency or need to turn your water off for some other reason, you can. Even if you are not doing your own plumbing, it will be helpful to be able to locate it for your plumbing technician at Charlotte, NC Plumbers.
It may be a little tricky to find your main water shut off the first time depending on where its located. The good news is that once you find it, you will know where it is. There are two main types of main water shutoff valves. There is the Gate Valve and the Ball Valve. The Gate Valve is what you will most likely find in an older home. It is a good idea to test it once you find it to ensure that it hasn’t rusted shut. If it is you will want to get it fixed before you will need to use it.
If your home has mostly plastic or copper pipes, it’s likely that it will have a Ball Valve. This type of valve will have a handle that will be aligned with the pipe when it is open. To close it you will turn it clockwise about a fourth of the way or until it reaches a right angle to the pipe.
The best way to handle a catastrophe such as a burst pipe is to be prepared for it. The more quickly you can act and get the water shut off, the less damage you will have to face when it is all said and done. Be sure that you know where your shut off valve is as well as anyone else who lives in the home.
Look For Clues
Not all plumbing issues will be obvious right away. More often than not, you will know that you have an issue. You may notice changes in your power bill or other “clues” that will tip you off. An unusually high power bill could indicate a leak in one of your pipes. Or your hot water may not be heating up the way that it normally does. You may also notice that your water pressure is lower than it usually is.
Find the Leak
Finding a leak can be tricky but not impossible. The trick is to know where to look. If you suspect you have a leak, you should always check your hot water tank first. More specifically you should check the Pressure Relief Valve because it may have a leak.
To find a leak in your toilet, you can put a few drops of food coloring into the tank. If the color leaks into the bowl then you have a leak in the tank. Other places to inspect for possible leaks include:
- Hose bibs
- Hoses, taps or drip irrigation systems in the garden
- Showerheads
- Pipes
Sometimes it is simply too difficult to find the leak, or it may be hidden, and you will need to call Charlotte, NC Plumbers. They will have the equipment needed to find and fix the leak such as a drill machine, tubing cutter, and special cameras to look into pipes and drains for clogs. You could buy all of the equipment yourself, but it would be much cheaper to just hire Charlotte, NC Plumbers to take care of the clog for you. Plus, you won’t have to get your hands dirty.
Upgrade Your Equipment
If your appliances, water heater, or furnace are reaching the end of their life cycle, it can save you money to upgrade. In many cases, the cost of a new appliance can pay for itself in the savings that you will get by running them. If you are unsure how efficient your water heater or furnace is you should have Charlotte, NC Plumbers inspect them and help you to find and install a better, more efficient one.
Hard water is a main culprit when it comes to plumbing issues. The hard water deposits can build up and can clog your appliances. Hard water significantly reduces the lifespan of your appliances and water heater. You can have Charlotte, NC Plumbers install a water softener which will help to keep everything running smoothly.
When To Call The Plumbing Professionals
Although you can fix many plumbing issues on your own, there are certain problems that you will need to call Charlotte, NC Plumbers for. They have the tools, expertise, and the manpower to handle even the toughest plumbing issue. The technicians at Charlotte, NC Plumbers, are trained to know what to look for so they will be able to get the problem fixed more quickly than if you were to learn along the way.
The information in this post came from the following sources:
https://www.rd.com/home/cleaning-organizing/never-pour-down-drain/
https://www.wikihow.com/Find-a-Water-Leak-in-Your-House
https://hayscoolingandheating.com/common-plumbing-problems/
https://www.dummies.com/home-garden/plumbing/pipes/finding-the-main-water-shutoff-valve/
https://www.rotorooter.com/plumbing-basics/frequently-asked-questions/plumbing-in-your-home/how-do-i-find-hidden-water-leaks/