Burst pipes and leaks cause a lot of damage, and then you have to deal with the cost of calling out a plumber to fix it. In some cases, you can’t really avoid it and you will just have to accept the cost. Maintenance is part of being a homeowner, after all. But a lot of those problems could be avoided if you look after your plumbing properly. These are some of the best ways to avoid expensive plumbing problems in your home.
Get The Plumbing Checked Regularly
If you are trying to avoid spending money, calling out a plumber might not seem like the best idea. But if you want to avoid expensive problems in the future, you should get a regular checkup on the plumbing once every year or two at least. Sarkinen Plumbing can help you check your plumbing and fix any problems you may have. If you have the plumbing checked, they will be able to pick up on small leaks and cracks in the pipes that are likely to develop into worse problems later on. It’s a lot cheaper to fix them now while the problem is still small, instead of waiting until that pipe bursts and you have to deal with that.
It’s especially important that you check for any signs of problems with your boiler because if that breaks down, it’s very expensive to fix and it can cause a lot of issues with the rest of your plumbing. In this case, it is much wiser to invest in a new boiler model that is energy efficient, but best to browse new boiler cost before purchasing one. It can also be very dangerous because a broken boiler may leak carbon monoxide into your home.
Be Careful What You Put Down The Sink
Clogged drains can lead to a lot of problems with the plumbing, and they’re usually caused by you. It’s important that you are careful about what you put down the sink because if you keep putting things down there that you shouldn’t, you will cause yourself a lot of trouble. People often make the mistake of pouring cooking fat down the sink, but it will solidify once it cools and cause a big blockage. The same goes for any waste food that ends up in there when you rinse plates, so make sure to scrape them into the bin before washing them up.
In the shower, you need to be careful about clogging the drain with hair. Get yourself a hair catcher over the plughole so you are not blocking up the pipes. If you let it all go down the drain, it will be tough to get it all out again.
Even if you are careful, things can still clog the drains, so it’s best to clean them out regularly. You can buy drain cleaning fluid that you pour down there and leave to soak. It should break down anything that is blocking the sink so you can wash it away. If you want a more natural solution, try using baking soda and vinegar to break things up, and then pour some boiling water down there.
Stay On Top Of Limescale
Limescale buildup can cause a lot of damage to your kitchen appliances and the fixtures in your bathroom, so you need to stay on top of it. If you live in a hard water area, you will have noticed spots appearing and limescale building up around the showerhead and taps. Using a citric acid based cleaner is a great solution for hard water spots because it cuts through the deposits that are left behind but it doesn’t use any harsh chemicals. If you clean off those deposits regularly, you can stop any thick limescale building up and causing damage to your fixtures, so you don’t need to keep replacing them. If you are finding it difficult to manage limescale, you should consider installing a water softener to filter out the minerals that leave the deposit behind.
Learn To Fix Things Yourself
No matter what you do, problems with your plumbing are going to happen sometimes. But you shouldn’t be so quick to pick up the phone and call a plumber every time something happens because there are a lot of issues that you can fix on your own. You don’t need to pay somebody to fix small problems like a leaking faucet or a drain that is a bit clogged if you just spend a bit of time learning how to do those things on your own. Just be realistic about what you can and can’t do and know when it’s time to call a plumber. If you try to tackle jobs that you aren’t qualified for, you will end up doing more damage.
If you follow these simple tips, you can avoid most of the big plumbing issues and save yourself a lot of money.
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