Common Residential Plumbing Problems

There are several common plumbing problems that are actually preventable but when they happen, you need a residential plumbing expert to come and sort you out. Most emergency plumbers will tell you that obstructive pipes and drains are one of the reasons they are called at even odd hours of the day. Perhaps this is an indication that most people value other possessions like cars more than they vale their expensive homes. Most people will service their cars at least once every year but they will not remember to do the same thing about plumbing in their homes; they normally call in emergency plumbers when it’s too late and it becomes more expensive.
Commercial and residential plumbers advice home owners the importance of preventive maintenance of house plumbing every once in a while; this will not only keep the pipes and drains in you r home in good running condition but you will also be able to spot any emerging problems well in advance. When problems are discovered and fixed early, they are dealt with before the cost of doing them escalates. There are simple steps that homeowners can take to reduce the costs associated with emergency plumbing.

Burst pipes: The most important thing you are going to do before the arrival of the emergency plumber is to stop the flow of water at the spot where there is a hole. You need to know where the main shut off valve of the house is so you can close it. By tuning off this valve you will stop the flow of water to other fixtures and prevent a flood from happening in the house. Make sure that you also turn on all cold water taps so you can drain pipes from all steam and trapped water. Once you have managed damage control you can call in your residential plumbing expert to repair or replace the burst pipe.

Frozen pipes: Sometimes water freezes in pipes and this can cause them to expand and burst. Start by closing the main shutoff valve and if the pipe is not yet split, try to use hot water bottles to thaw it from the end of the pipe that is nearest to a tap. You need to be gentle with your thawing and avoid using naked flames so as to avoid thermal expansion that could end up bursting the pipe. Preventative maintenance involves ensuring that your pipes are properly insulated during the cold months of the year.
Leaking fixtures: Close the shutoff valve related to the leaking fixture before checking for debris, food particles, soap scum or hair that could be causing the obstruction and overflow; call in the emergency residential plumber to do the repair.

Blocked drains and toilets: Try to use a plunger or plumbing snake to lift off the obstruction and if all that fails, call the plumber immediately.