No one wants to come home to burst water or sewer lines. You expect to have access to running water and sewage disposal all the time. When you have no running water, damage to your piping or backup of your sewer, you have a plumbing emergency. You could also have devastation caused by water damage. Of course, prevention is the best solution. In many situations, your home’s piping problems are preventable.
4 Ways to Prevent Piping Problems in Your Home
Upgrade older, less reliable pipes.
As long as it’s working, you might not think about your piping. But an ageing plumbing system is a disaster waiting to happen. And if you haven’t done much maintenance over the years, your piping could be in much worse shape than you realize. Even with regular maintenance, old galvanized or polybutylene pipes in your home are known for their problems with corrosion and line leaks. Upgrade older pipes to help reduce your risk. An added benefit to upgrading pipes is that it could help increase the value of your home.
Insulate your pipes.
Although freezing weather is a few months away, now is a good time to begin taking note of what insulation you will need for your pipes. Pipes that are in unheated areas, basements and garages are more susceptible to rupture from freezing weather. Taps and pipes that are outside or pipes buried in the ground also will need protection. While it is summer, use your time now for planning ahead. And if you are doing any renovations that involve opening or adding walls that contain plumbing, take the opportunity to inspect and improve insulation if needed.
Recognize warning signs.
You might already have red flags from neverending repairs, dripping faucets, slow drains or water stains. Fix dripping faucets and leaking pipes. By making repairs promptly, you can avoid the risk of increased damaged caused by underlying problems. Also, keep your drains clear to avoid long-term problems with clogs. Besides slow or sluggish drains, toilets that require multiple flushes to discharge waste can be a warning sign that you have a clog. If left alone, clogged sewer lines will rupture from the accumulation of waste and debris over time.
Other warning signs that you have a piping problem include water stains on your ceilings or walls and water on the floor. Before a pipe bursts in the ceiling, it could be some time before it is noticeable. The slightest hint of water or bulge in the ceiling can help you avoid a disaster.
Perform regular inspections of your plumbing system.
Inspecting your plumbing system can help you recognize warning signs and correct problems early. Regularly check all fixtures and appliances to verify they are working properly and don’t have cracks or leaks. Inspect areas where your lines run along walls, ceilings and floors. If you don’t know, try to map some possible routes that piping could run from the front of the house, upstairs, downstairs and out of the house. There are specific rooms that have plumbing, such as bathrooms, laundry room, mudrooms, and kitchen. Inspecting areas where your lines run through your home can help to address problems before they become disastrous.
Prevention is by far the best solution to avoid the risk of a burst pipe in your home. If you suspect you are at risk, schedule an inspection with High Priority Plumbing at 770.860.8110 in Atlanta. We perform all types of repairs on water and sewer lines. And our services are available 24/7 in case you have a plumbing emergency.