A New Homeowner’s Guide To Basic Plumbing Repairs

Plumbing issues inside a home will cost thousands of dollars to repair if ignored for too long, and in the worst case scenario it will actually become a hazard to your health. On top of all that, your stress levels as a homeowner will surely skyrocket if your home has serious plumbing problems.

If you’re a DIY expert whose idea of a good time is spending hours at the hardware store, then plumbing problems are no big deal. But many more homeowners move in without really understanding basic home improvement tasks. So if you own a home but have no idea how your plumbing actually works, here are a few things to keep in mind:

After You Move In…

If you haven’t already had an inspection performed on the house, it’s always worthwhile to hire local plumbers to inspect your home’s pipes. Many older houses have ancient pipes that are corroded close to the breaking point. You might think what you don’t know can’t hurt you, but that just isn’t the case.

In any case, you’ll want to have a local plumbing service’s number ready in case of emergency. If water starts backing up, you’ll need to move quickly.

Wasted Water

If you do not properly maintain your home’s drains, pipes, and faucets, you could end up wasting thousands of gallons of water — which you are paying for — every year. In the U.S., the average home with leaky pipes accounts for more than 10,000 gallons of wasted water annually. In terms of loads of laundry, that’s about 270 spin cycles worth of water!

How To Keep Residential Water Bills Down

Simply fixing these leaking pipes can not only preserve thousands of gallons of water, but also save homeowners roughly 10% on their water bills. And think about this: all that water has to go somewhere. It could be building up around your foundation, or warping the wood inside your walls. Keep an eye on your water bill for unexplained spikes in water usage, a sure sign of an undetected leak.

Another great way to save a few bucks on your water bill and save a few more thousand gallons of wasted water: low flush toilets. Installing a low flush toilet inside a home can actually save up to 18,000 gallons of water each year.

Drain Cleaning

Clogged drain cleaning should be done on a regular basis so the buildup never reaches significantly high levels. Dirt, skin flakes, hair, and various other debris can accumulate inside drains and over time will cause serious damage. Make sure to not only take care of your drains and pipes on a consistent basis, but to clean them every once in a while so no problems occur.

Installation and Repairs

Experienced professionals should perform the installation of any appliances, pipes, and drains. If your plumbing system is installed incorrectly, you will be the one paying for it later on, while your home will be much more susceptible to damage in the meantime. Working with experienced professionals who can offer repair services is just as important as maintaining the pipes in the first place.

It’s difficult to stop some plumbing problems from happening, and unfortunately the damage can spread fast. That’s why it’s so important to get professional help to avoid even greater repair costs down the road.

If you’re in need of drain cleaning, pipe repair, or any other plumbing issue, contact Delpo Plumbing Heating and Cooling today!