People may need water to live, but water can just seem like a hassle if it’s flooding your basement. There is not much else short of catastrophe that is going to cause as much damage to a home as plumbing issues. Luckily, people who own homes can do many things to prevent major plumbing problems and to control the damage that does happen.
Septic Tank
Having your septic tank pumped out on a regular basis will keep it functioning properly. Regular maintenance will keep sediment from backing up inside of the tank. Sediment can not only cause the sewage in the tank to back up into your house, but it can cause the tank to fail completely. Getting your septic tank drained occasionally may be expensive, but it’s dirt cheap compared to the cost of repairing a damaged septic system or the cleanup cost when raw sewage backs up into your home.
Check for floor damage around your toilet. If the floor around your toilet feels softer than the rest of the floor in your bathroom, there’s damage you need to address. Straddle the toilet and rock from one foot to the other to see if you feel any weakening or “softness” in the floor beneath you. You could save yourself money but noticing that problem sooner, rather than later.
If you get your water from a well and orange or pink stains appear in your sink or tub, then you can be sure that the culprit is iron in your water. To get rid of this problem, you can either use a commercial product to soften the water, or have a contractor come to your home and do the work for you.
When running your garbage disposal, always use a lot of cold water. The helps sharpen the blades and clears out the drain mechanism. Using hot water will cause grease to liquefy and accumulate in the drain, which will cause clogs in your pipes.
In order to stay away from plumbing problems, you should make sure you are knowledgeable about the basics and prepared for the worst. The savvy homeowner who takes the time to learn even a little about plumbing is better able to make good decisions while avoiding plumbing situations that could become dangerous. It goes without saying that someone who has done research and is prepared before a problem arises will be better capable of fixing things faster.