5 Common Plumbing Mistakes Homeowners Make And How A Plumbing Service Provider Can Fix Them | Buckhead, GA
On average, the household leaks waste about 10,000 gallons of water every year in the US. Most water leaks result from leaky pipes, valves, water heaters, dripping faucets, and toilet flappers. Although you might feel confident that you can fix these leaks easily, that is not recommended. DIY plumbing fixes will likely result in a more damaging and costly problem.
Hence, let your plumbing service provider handle the problem because they are experienced and trained in handling such issues. Fixing the common household plumbing leaks can help reduce the water loss and reduce the unreasonable water utility bills. However, some common plumbing mistakes might result in high energy and water utility bills, so you should avoid them. These plumbing mistakes include;
Using the Wrong Plumbing Tools
At the outset, DIY plumbing fixes are a terrible idea. Unfortunately, some homeowners in Buckhead, GA, usually try repairing their plumbing appliances and fixtures while they don’t have the necessary system knowledge, tools, and spare parts. Hence, they end up using the wrong tools. Unfortunately, this has a higher probability of leaving the problem even worse than it was, meaning that they will pay more for the repair or replacement that they would have. Further, it exposes them to dangers such as electrocution or other injuries.
For instance, attempting to remove the galvanized nipples using typical pliers or a pipe wrench might damage the water piping or even leave threads on your walls. Hence, if you have training and plumbing knowledge and decide to repair an issue yourself, ensure that you have the right tools and spare parts and have diagnosed the problem properly.
But if you don’t have any knowledge or training in plumbing or rely on those little DIY skills, you pick up on YouTube and hire a reliable plumbing service provider to complete the repair. These professionals have the necessary knowledge to fix any plumbing issue without any further damage to your property or risking injury to themselves. After all, they have medical insurance policies. The plumbers are also equipped with modern tools to ensure that they finish fixing the plumbing issue promptly and efficiently.
Improper Usage of Chemicals
Nobody wants to arrive at your Buckhead, GA home and find clogged drains. However, if the drains aren’t working properly, the water might back up, resulting in floods. They may even damage the pipes. Liquid or chemical-based drain cleaning solutions might appear to be a perfect solution when dealing with clogs. This may be because they are readily available, and they can do other things than only cleaning your drainage system. Some homeowners prefer using liquid drain cleaners to enlisting a plumbing service provider. However, this is a terrible idea because these drain cleaners might cause more harm than good.
The chemical drain cleaners pose many risks. First, they can damage your plumbing pipes since they work by reacting with and dissolving the clogs. They produce excessive heat that might melt the plastic pipes when doing this. However, the risk of damage is particularly higher if the CPVC or PVC pipes are corroded or older.
Second, the liquid drain cleaning solutions are harmful to the environment. This is because they contain toxic chemicals. A professional plumbing service provider uses mechanical tools such as drain snakes, augers, or hydro jetting to unclog your drains. These mechanical methods have no impact on the environment or the pipes. The professionals also remove the P-trap and empty the materials within.
Hence, you should seek efficient and eco-friendly drain cleaning services from a professional to clean your drainage system effectively.
Irregular Plumbing Maintenance
Do you have a regular maintenance plan with your plumbing service provider? Having a routine inspection and maintenance plan can be essential in helping you detect the developing plumbing issues and fix them before they become catastrophic. The bathrooms and kitchen plumbing are the places and fixtures that predictably need a routine inspection, though it is essential to inspect the entire plumbing system.
Although enlisting a professional plumbing service to inspect, maintain or renovate the drainage system might cost you money, the issue might cost you more if you leave it unfixed. This is because the problem will develop to an even worse level that may require a replacement, unlike having it fixed in the early stages.
For instance, if the anode rod in a water heater is replaced with a new one, that might save a homeowner from replacing the entire water heater tank after it has been eaten up by rust. Hence, ensure that you have a plan with a plumber for drain and pipe inspection and maintenance. Preventative maintenance undoubtedly cut the repiping, replacement, and repair expenses.
Failing to Shut Off the Water
Do you know that some homeowners forget to turn off the main valve, showers, or faucets? As a homeowner, it is your responsibility to turn off the water supply after you finish using the water at your home. If a pipe bursts with the main valve, your home could experience serious flooding before a plumbing service provider arrives on the scene to fix the issue. This means that many of your valuable possessions might be lost, and it would cost you a fortune to replace or repair the affected part. Call your professional plumber if you’re unsure how the main shutoff valve is turned off.
Applying Excess Force On the Valves
Whenever the sink and toilet valves at your Buckhead, GA home haven’t been used after a long time, it becomes challenging to turn them on. When your valves aren’t smoothly opening, do not use excessive force to try opening them. You might damage the valve system or break the knob in the process. This happens because the packing seal welded on the tap’s stem is worn out or maybe excessively dry, making it difficult to turn the valves.
To loosen the nuts holding the valve stem and open it, you could use a wrench. This eases the tight bond, and ultimately, the knob starts turning normally. After this, ensure that you smug the nut, preventing it from leaking. However, consult your reliable plumbing service provider if the issue persists.
Your Reputable Plumbing Company
As you can see, many plumbing mistakes might happen in your home. They might result in serious damages that would cost you an arm and a leg to fix. Be sure to enlist the services of a reliable plumbing service like Peach Plumbing & Drain for any plumbing issue at your home. Call us today for an inspection and maintenance service to ensure that your plumbing system runs efficiently.