Water damage is among the primary threats to Maryland homes, often due to extreme weather conditions, but another common cause is faulty plumbing.
Plumbing is also often neglected, primarily because homeowners take for granted its longevity and assume it requires little to no upkeep. In fact, Pasadena plumbing contractors urge homeowners to inspect their plumbing periodically, particularly for dripping faucets or minor leaks.
Reputable and quality companies like Benjamin Franklin Plumbing further suggest that homeowners schedule regular professional inspections to ensure the system is in good functional condition with no issues developing. When defects are caught early, qualified plumbers can address the problem before it escalates.
The experts further offer key tips on proactively caring for the plumbing to prevent frequent repairs or the potential for the system to shut down. Let’s explore a few key points to keep in mind when caring for your plumbing system.
Guidelines On Maintaining Your Plumbing System
Plumbing is often low on the household maintenance checklist, but professional plumbing companies in Pasadena urge homeowners to pay closer attention to their systems. Minor plumbing issues can quickly escalate into a crisis, with resultant interior water damage compromising the home’s structural integrity.
You want to become familiar with the various plumbing components and how these work together to handle minor fixes or replacements such as changing out the shower head if pressure seems low.
Visit 16 Easy Ways to Prevent Expensive Plumbing Problems in Your Home – for tips on affordable and simple DIY plumbing fixes. Here are a few tips qualified plumbers recommend keeping your system in good condition and functioning efficiently.
The pipes
Given the right conditions, mold growth can start as soon as 24 hours and spread rapidly. The fungi like humidity greater than 70 percent and moisture.
If you live in an area where RH – relative humidity is high, your pipes will sweat as the warm, moist outdoor air comes in contact with the cold pipes; thus, triggering mold growth. In the spring and summer, you want to check the pipes for condensation that runs the length of the pipe.
Water leaks will be focused on one area. The recommendation is to attach self-adhesive sleeves to protect pipes from sweating. These are common to protect pipes in the winter but help eliminate sweating. Read here for details on protecting pipes from cold Maryland weather.
The leaks
Dripping faucets and water leaks contribute to excessive and expensive water wastage. A dripping faucet can account for roughly 320 gallons of waste within a year. Part of household maintenance should involve checking for leaking plumbing. This is a matter of a simple water meter test.
You want to shut off the water supply and avoid using the system when performing the test. The meter’s gauge should stop moving. If the numbers change after approximately 30 minutes, it’s a sign of a leak.
For those who have trouble finding the source, common spots are silent leaking toilets, water treatment systems, or a pipe in the wall or beneath the floor. The priority is to reach out to a licensed plumber for a quick diagnosis and repair.
The spring drain test
Sometimes drains are a bit slower in the winter particularly if inappropriate substances like oil, fat, or grease become frozen in the system. Once spring arrives, this build-up should thaw allowing more efficient draining. An important thing to remember, is to never put any of these things in the drain.
You can test your drain’s health to determine where clogs might exist by running hot water in each area. If you have a fast response, there’s likely no clog. Minor clogs can be released with a plunger or solution of vinegar and baking soda. Chemical draining cleaners, however, are harsh and can damage pipes.
As a preventive, drain screens can prevent debris from entering the drain. They filter food particles, hair, soap scum, and other debris. When clogs persist despite your efforts, it’s time to contact a professional who can use a camera to inspect the main drain line to ensure it’s clear.
Water heater flushing
Over time, minerals that separate from water molecules when water is heated attach to the sides and can settle and harden on the water heater tank floor. This “scaling” leads to premature wear and reduced efficiency. The situation can worsen if you have hard water, meaning water with a lot of calcium carbonate.
Flushing the tank is recommended to get rid of sediment and prevent deposits from settling and hardening on the floor.
Final Thought
These are merely a few tips to keep your plumbing running smoothly and efficiently. A quality and qualified plumbing company will offer guidance with informative content on their websites.
If you notice your water bills are increasing with no changes in usage, it’s wise to reach out for a credentialed Pasadena plumber. Local experts can swiftly diagnose and correct the problem before it escalates.