Plumbing Mistakes You Need To Avoid

Just like your heating and cooling system, your plumbing plays a crucial role in keeping your home comfortable. You do not pay much attention to your plumbing system until there’s a problem. Provided below are seven common plumbing mistakes and some tips to avoid them.

Keeping The Water On During An Emergency

In the case of a burst pipe, an overflowing toilet, or some other emergency problem, you have to switch off the water. Your primary water source will have a shut-off valve. You have to turn it off right away until the water stops flowing whenever you notice signs of issues.

The next thing you have to do is call a plumber. A lot of people fail to shut off the water source first. What they usually do first is clean the mess as more water pours out. Switch off the source of the water, take a deep breath, and call your residential plumber before you start cleaning.

Overusing drain cleaners

Whenever homeowners have a clog, they commonly go for drain cleaners to clear it. Drain cleaners are effective in certain situations, but using them too often can cause your pipes to corrode. Chemical drain cleaners function by eating away or breaking down whatever is blocking your drain.

If you use them too often, they will begin eating away not just the clog but your pipes too. There is another alternative to drain cleaners. You can snake out your shower or call in a professional plumber in Myrtle Beach whenever you notice a clog. If you notice that you have been using drain cleaners way too often, your plumbing system might have a much bigger problem that only a professional can fix.

Fixing These Problems Yourself

Even if you are handy, it is better to leave the drainage issue to an expert Myrtle Beach plumber. Plumbing may seem easy to do, but there are certain aspects that can become really complicated.

It is quite easy to turn a small problem into a huge one that’s costly to fix. Unless you are a plumber yourself, it is better to call in a professional to take care of your plumbing problems.

Ignoring A Plumbing Problem

Homeowners love to disregard problems and simply hope they go away over time. A running toilet, for instance, can become a major plumbing issue that can lead to a major water bill. A clanking sound could be a sign of an impending flood in your basement.

Always remember that your plumbing problems won’t resolve themselves. The longer you disregard the issue, the worse it will get. In case you have concerns, obtain an estimate on the required plumbing repair and understand the nature of the problem so you can make an informed decision.

Hiring a Handyman Instead Of A Licensed Plumber

Anybody who touches your sinks, toilets, pipes, showers, or water heaters should be licensed for various reasons. Even though the neighborhood handyman is most likely good at minor repairs, there is nothing you can do if he does a poor job.

Apart from that, warranties will be voided if you do not hire a licensed plumbing contractor. Even though saving a bit of cash is a good thing and offering your neighborhood handyman work, it can be for other things but not your plumbing system.

Turn Off Your Heater In The Winter

If you go on vacation during winter, it can be tempting to turn off the heat to cut back on your utility costs while you are away. It is a good way to save money, in theory. But the truth is, it can cause a lot of major plumbing issues.

Switching off your heat can lead to frozen or burst pipes. Instead of completely shutting off the heat while you are gone, you should turn the temperature down.

Not Booking A Plumbing Service

Ideally speaking, your plumbing system should work without any glitches for the longest time possible. However, things don’t work that way, and this applies to everything, not just your plumbing system. By having your plumbing system serviced, small leaks and other problems can be detected during their early stages.

They can be fixed before they turn into a major headache that will cost thousands of dollars to repair. Additionally, if you would like to sell your house in the future, you will not have surprises during a home inspection.