Let’s be honest: Residential plumbing is complicated. There are so many parts and pieces and so many things that can go wrong, it’s hard to keep it all straight. While many jobs require the expertise of a professional plumber to fix, savvy homeowners (and even renters too) should know what to keep an eye on in order to prevent a small hassle from turning into a huge headache.
The Most Important Plumbing Tips You Should Know
Always wrap your pipes in winter
Frozen pipes are a huge source of stress for homeowners because when one bursts, your basement can flood quickly and dealing with water damage is incredibly expensive and complex. To prevent this from happening in the first place, wrap any exterior pipes as soon as the temperature begins to approach freezing and don’t unwrap them until the danger of frost has passed. If you’ll be away for more than a day, it’s a good idea to keep a tap open to a slow drip in order to prevent the water from freezing.
Keep an eye on visible pipes
One of the trickiest parts about plumbing is that so much of it happens behind the walls and it’s hard to know whether there is a problem. Luckily, quite a few pipes are visible so keep an eye on those as much as possible. If you see any leaks, rust, or buckling of visible pipes, call your Maryland plumber immediately.
Turn off your spigot when it gets cold
As soon as temperatures begin to drop, unhook your hose and turn off your water supply to any and all outdoor spigots. This will help prevent frozen and burst pipes.
Check your water heater annually
If your water heater springs a leak, there is no cure and it needs to be replaced immediately. Inspect your heater at least once a year to ensure it’s still working properly.
Want to upgrade your plumbing? Your Maryland Plumber Can Help
Got plumbing problems? Give Master Plumbing & Mechanical a call at 301-650-9100 and let our experienced plumbers get the job done right.
We’ve received Angie’s List Super Service Awards for both plumbing and drain cleaning every year consecutively, going back to 2007, as well as the Best Plumber award from Best of Bethesda. Our company is fully licensed, bonded, and insured and we offer friendly, courteous service with fast response times.