As many homeowners already know, few things can ruin a day quite like a plumbing disaster. No one wants or intends to have a plumbing disaster, but an ounce of prevention all year long can go a long way to keeping your plumbing healthy.
A plumber is a lot like a doctor who is skilled in handling unforeseen emergencies. You hope you never need this specialist when something is wrong; you want an expert to figure out the problem and get it fixed. So before you require a specialist, know that disasters can be prevented with some regular maintenance and a basic understanding of plumbing systems.
From all of the possible issues that can arise with plumbing problems, such as clogged drains, blocked kitchen sinks, slow draining bathtubs to leaking toilets and burst pipes, there are some things that you can do to avoid plumbing disasters in your home. You don’t want plumbing emergencies to inconvenience your life, leaving you without the use of hot water, working drains, flushing toilets and more.
Have Your Plumbing Inspected
An ounce of prevention is one of the best ways to avoid plumbing disasters. The best thing that you can do to prevent potential problems is to schedule a complete plumbing inspection with a master plumber at least once a year. A plumbing inspection will look down your drains and sewer pipes using a camera that travels along the route. It will also include inspecting all plumbing outlets, fittings, and appliances. If there is a potential problem that needs to be addressed before a disaster strikes, a plumbing inspection can discover it early. If the problem is caught early on and relatively easy to correct, the cost will be lesser than dealing with a more considerable headache down the road.
Shut Off Main Water Valve
After the water passes through the three city-installed valves, the water comes to what is known as the main shutoff valve in your home. For every homeowner, this is the valve that you need to be able to locate in an emergency, so if it occurs, you know where it is.
This valve is usually in the basement or on an outside wall in a utility area of the house. When opened, the house gets a full flow of water and when turned off, cuts off the water supply to the entire home.
In the case of a plumbing emergency, turning off the valve can help you prevent unnecessary flooding and expensive damage in the case of a plumbing disaster.
Cleaning Pipe & Drains
Most of the time, people don’t have their drains cleaned on a regular basis. To avoid plumbing disasters, you should have your pipe and drains cleaned on a regular basis to prevent clogs and sewage backflows.
There are many reasons why you should have a professional plumber service your pipes and drains, such as:
- Reduce odours
- Potential to increase the lifespan of your plumbing system
- Reduce the risk of leakage
- Eliminate drain clogs that accumulate over time
- Prevent sewage backup
- Avoid structural damage to your home
- Remove blockage without the use of chemicals that harm the environment and your pipes over time. Professional plumbers have the techniques and technology to clean plumbing installations safely without chemicals.
Prevention Pays Off
There are simple preventative plumbing procedures that you may be able to perform easily in your home; however, when in doubt, the safe bet is to call in a professional to make sure there are no underlying issues that lead to a more significant problem down the road. Call the professionals at McKenna Plumbing for plumbing solutions you can count on.