As a new homeowner, I can tell you that things aren't always as simple as they appear. I started thinking about it a few years ago, and I realized that there were some serious problems with our plumbing system. We had issues with drains working correctly and toilets flushing like they should, so I started focusing more heavily on understanding the basics of our plumbing system. Within a few short months the entire system was operating more fluidly because of a few changes that I made, so I wanted to create a blog all about my journey. Check out these articles to learn more about the plumbing basics.
Understanding Plumbing Basics
After A Plumbing Leak, How Can I Prevent A Recurrence?
Jorge Alexander
Plumbing leaks are no fun. But what's even worse is having a plumbing leak and then not learning from it, only to have the same thing happen again. Here are some things you can do after the leak to keep it all from happening again.
Get Your Pipes Insulated
A big source of plumbing damage is winter weather. The pipes may freeze and then burst when they thaw, paving the way for a major plumbing leak. If you have experienced this problem, chances are that your plumbing pipes have not been insulated. You can take care of this issue yourself by wrapping the pipes in foam to create a more insulated temperature.
Disconnect Garden Hoses
Another source of freezing in your plumbing pipes is garden hoses that are left connected over the winter. If there's still some water inside, the hose can freeze and the pattern travels up through the nozzle and into your internal pipes. It's a simple enough fix to disconnect the garden hose at the end of summer and store it in your garage or shed.
Keep Drains Clear
Freezing is just one potential reason your plumbing pipes may burst. Another thing that can cause this problem is clogs that get out of hand and create a lot of pressure within your pipes. You can gradually prevent this problem by using drain cleaner on a regular basis. Avoid flushing any solids into your plumbing fixtures as well. Drain services in your area can also come to regularly do a deep clean of your drain system to clear away buildup.
Replace Pipes that Are Too Old
Corrosion is another reason for pipes to burst. This is usually something that naturally happens in pipes over the years. If you have a plumbing contractor inspect your pipes, they can instruct you as to which pipes need replacing in the next few years.
Corrosion may, in some cases, be a sign of bad water quality; when there are too many minerals in the water, that's when you often see a lot of corrosion. So if this was the source of your troubles, you may want to get water testing done too to see if you need some quality control for your water supply.
Create a Regular Plumbing Maintenance Schedule
When a big leak occurs, it could have been prevented in many cases. Leaks often start out small, with the problem getting worse over time.
If you spend time more regularly to check on the status of your plumbing system, you can catch some of these major leaks at the beginning.
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