Three Ways to Prevent Plumbing Emergencies
By PAV Plumbing Sydney|September 08, 2008
Plumbing emergencies can occur at any time, and often occur at inconvenient times. Even if you have new plumbing installed in your home, broken or cracked pipes, internal clogs and other issues can develop and are invariably expensive to fix. While you can't prevent every emergency, there are ways to protect and maintain home plumbing to minimise complicated repairs down the road.
Investigate Any Leaks
Leaky faucets and fixtures may indicate internal problems such as broken or missing o-rings or loose pipes. Taking care of minor leaks before they become worse is recommended to avoid future problems. By removing the faucet spout, you will be able to check the o-rings and replace them if necessary. If your sink still leaks, you may want to call a plumber to do a routine inspection. Repairing minor damage quickly may save a lot of money later on. Fixing leaks can also save money in annual water costs and help save litres of scarce water in the process.
Look After Your Drains
Plumbers commonly remove hair, grease and a wide range of unexpected items from drains. To prevent blocked drains, it is important not to put fat and grease down your kitchen drain, to avoid allowing excessive hair down your bathroom and shower drains, and make sure items like children’s toys aren’t flushed down toilets.
Tree roots are a major cause of blocked drains in Australia, and will cause significant damage that often leads to recurring blockages. This should be kept in mind when choosing where to plant trees, and what species of tree to plant. A little planning will often prevent needing to call a plumber to attend to a plumbing emergency.
Test Your Main Water Valve
The main water valve controls water flow throughout your entire home. If a pipe bursts, you can turn off the water to prevent further leakage until a plumber arrives. The valve will located near the main water supply pipes, and should be kept in working condition at all times. To test the main water valve, turn on the water in a sink or bathtub. Turn off the main valve. The water should turn off completely. If the valve isn't working, you should consider engaging a professional plumbing company to replace the control valve.
By maintaining the plumbing in your home, you will be able to prevent major plumbing emergencies that could end up costing a significant amount. Engaging a plumber to fix minor leaks and other issues before they get worse is a great way to invest in your home and increase your peace of mind.
Investigate Any Leaks
Leaky faucets and fixtures may indicate internal problems such as broken or missing o-rings or loose pipes. Taking care of minor leaks before they become worse is recommended to avoid future problems. By removing the faucet spout, you will be able to check the o-rings and replace them if necessary. If your sink still leaks, you may want to call a plumber to do a routine inspection. Repairing minor damage quickly may save a lot of money later on. Fixing leaks can also save money in annual water costs and help save litres of scarce water in the process.
Look After Your Drains
Plumbers commonly remove hair, grease and a wide range of unexpected items from drains. To prevent blocked drains, it is important not to put fat and grease down your kitchen drain, to avoid allowing excessive hair down your bathroom and shower drains, and make sure items like children’s toys aren’t flushed down toilets.
Tree roots are a major cause of blocked drains in Australia, and will cause significant damage that often leads to recurring blockages. This should be kept in mind when choosing where to plant trees, and what species of tree to plant. A little planning will often prevent needing to call a plumber to attend to a plumbing emergency.
Test Your Main Water Valve
The main water valve controls water flow throughout your entire home. If a pipe bursts, you can turn off the water to prevent further leakage until a plumber arrives. The valve will located near the main water supply pipes, and should be kept in working condition at all times. To test the main water valve, turn on the water in a sink or bathtub. Turn off the main valve. The water should turn off completely. If the valve isn't working, you should consider engaging a professional plumbing company to replace the control valve.
By maintaining the plumbing in your home, you will be able to prevent major plumbing emergencies that could end up costing a significant amount. Engaging a plumber to fix minor leaks and other issues before they get worse is a great way to invest in your home and increase your peace of mind.
