While investing in your plumbing network and suppliers, you might have worked by the rule that the most expensive supplies will serve your premises for the longest time possible. Atop going for the right plumbing material, you probably furthered your caution and engaged tested and proven professional plumbers in installing your plumbing and drainage systems.
Nevertheless, It is natural to encounter a few plumbing issues as your home ages. Despite different plumbing suppliers being designed for durability, they suffer wear and tear over time. And can, therefore, serve you plumbing issues in all sorts of shapes and sizes based on several factors such as maintenance routines.
Unraveled below is a portrait of major plumbing problems and how to prevent them.
Leaky faucets and pipes
Causes
The Drip! Drip! Drip! from a leaky faucet is not only annoying to the extent of disrupting sleep but also adds extra costs to the water bill. Some of the common reasons behind a leaky faucet include:
- A problem in the O Ring
- A corroded valve seat
- Worn out washer
- Improper installation of the washer
- Water pressure
On the other hand, leaky pipes arise from factors such as:
- Temperature changes
- Unregulated water pressure
- Deterioration or shifting
- Clogs
- Bad craft
Prevention
Although leaky faucets are bound to happen over time, you can prevent the issue by turning the faucets on and off slowly to avoid applying excessive pressure on the installation that can damage its various components.
On a different note, leaky pipes are difficult to prevent. However, through regular inspection by certified professionals such as Absolute Airflow, you can solve the vexation early enough.
Clogged drains and pipes
Causes
“The water is not going down the drain” is one of the most dreadful statements you can come across from any of your members as a property owner. It means that if not taken care of, your premises could soon flood with slimy wastewaters that will probably leave your premises baked hard by a foul smell.
The most common cause of clogged drains and pipes is the buildup of material along the drainage channels. It could be hair, soap, dirt, kitchen refuse, objects accidentally flushed, and much more. Such solid items make it difficult or impossible for water to flow past them.
Prevention
To avert clogging of drains and pipes, ensure that you flash only dissolvable waste products down the drainage system. Furthermore, you can install solid waste catchers over the drains to collect solid waste products that build up inside drains and pipes.
Running toilets
Causes
Running toilets fall in the category of plumbing issues that are a nuisance to the ear, accompanied by additional water bills. The five potential sources of running toilets include:
- A malfunctioned refill tube, float ball, or toilet handle
- Worn out gasket
- Loosely dimensioned valve chains or refill tubes
- Wrong float heights
Prevention
Like leaky pipes, running toilets issues are challenging to prevent. They, therefore, demand a regular inspection of the different components to ensure that they are working correctly and well-calibrated.
Regular simple adjustments to the various internal tank components such as the chain attached to the flapper solve most of the snags that cause running toilets. However, if regular inspections and adjustments of the toilet components do not work, kindly liaise with your plumber.
Faulty water heaters
Causes
Hot water is part and parcel of personal hygiene and most home chores routines such as washing utensils and clothes. Unless your water heater is voluntarily turned off for some reason, going without hot water, especially when the temperatures have dipped, is never a fun experience.
The mainsprings of water heater problems include:
- Internal rust of the water heater components
- Heavy sediment build-up
- High water pressure
- Corrosive fumes
- Wrong sized heaters that end up being overworked
Prevention
Regular maintenance routines ensure that your water heater installations do not run into problems. Check the pressure valve regularly, and remove sediments from your water heater installation.
Notably, due to the complexity of water heaters and potential dangers presented by the installation, it is advisable that you engage professional services in your maintenance routines.
Low water pressure
Causes
We may take for granted the essence of stable water supply in our premises until we experience issues from low water pressure. High water demands, faulty fixtures, broken pressure regulators, clogged pipes, and corroded plumbing are the common fountainheads of low water pressure.
Prevention
To prevent a build-up of materials, install a filtration mechanism that prevents the accumulation of minerals in your piping network. Additionally, check your pipes regularly to troubleshoot and issues that will result in future low water pressure challenges.