By preventing the need for urgent maintenance in the first place, many plumbing problems wouldn’t ever result in you standing in your bathrobe glaring at a toilet slowly filling to the brim with water. Some homeowners think that plumbing maintenance is tedious or just another extra expense. However, almost every homeowner with a plumbing problem wouldn’t agree with that! By spending a little money throughout the year on preventative plumbing measures, you can avoid costly repairs and replacements later down the line. What steps can you take to avoid the dreaded plunger?
Check Your Water Heater
Water heaters, particularly residential water heaters, should last well over a decade with proper care and plumbing maintenance. Your water heater is used every day to heat the water for your morning shower and help wash off the dinner dishes every night. Since it is such a necessary part of your plumbing, make sure that you check your water heater at least once a month for potential problems. Lower the temperature setting to 115 degrees to prevent any overheating issues.
What should you be looking for during your monthly inspection? Check the temperature and pressure displayed on the appliance if you can’t hear any gurgling sounds. This can mean that water is not being properly released into the drain tube. If this cannot be repaired, your water heater may need to be replaced altogether to keep everyone in the house safe.
Upgrade Hoses and Fixtures
If your home still has rubber hosing, you could be setting yourself up for future plumbing problems. Rubber hoses should be replaced with metal hoses. You should also replace any hosing on waterline raisers, valves, and pipes. More modern houses typically have more complicated plumbing, since they are typically built under different code and plumbing requirements.
If you are just moving into a home and looking for any plumbing problems, start by checking the walls, floors, and ceilings. If there is any cracking visible on the ceiling, that is almost always a sign of leaking water or accumulated trapped moisture. If you spot this in your home suddenly, troubleshoot by replacing old rubber hoses with new ones constructed from copper or stainless steel. Metal hoses are more durable and last up to 15 years before they need to be replaced.
Ready to Prevent Plumbing Problems From Giving You a Headache?
Give Master Plumbing a call at (301) 650-9100 or contact us online to get more information on how our expert plumbers can help you with any potential plumbing problems in your home. We have received Angie’s List Super Service Award recognition for plumbing and drain cleaning every year since 2007, in addition to the Best Plumber award from Best of Bethesda. We are fully licensed, bonded, and insured and our service is unparalleled. Give us a call today—you won’t regret it! To see examples of our projects, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.