Plumbing problems are one of the most common home repairs. They are an important part of a functioning home and are involved in many of the home?s appliances and necessities. In addition to the toilet, the sink, dishwasher, ice maker, washing machine and drains are all connected to and rely on properly working plumbing. When plumbing problems occur, it can affect other plumbing appliances of the home, making it more difficult to pinpoint and correct the plumbing problem. Plumbing problems often require the services of a professional plumbing contractor to properly correct the problem.
Plumbing problems can vary, from minor leaks and clogged drains to major plumbing problems that cause home flooding. Minor plumbing problems can often be corrected by the homeowner themselves. One of the biggest and overlooking plumbing problems is a leaking faucet. It may not appear to cause many problems, besides for the annoying sound, so many homeowners may ignore it. However, a leaking faucet often leads to an increase in water and a high increase in water bills. In fact, fixing easily corrected household water leaks can save homeowners about 10% on their water bills.
Homeowners who ignore their leaking faucets may also be ignoring a larger plumbing problem. Most sink and toilet repairs can be easily fixed, but some may the sign of a much larger plumbing problem that is being ignored. The average household?s leaks can account for more than 10,000 gallons of water wasted every year, or the amount of water needed to wash 270 loads of laundry. It may not seem like a lot, but when the sink is consistently dripping water every minute of the day, it really adds up.
A running toilet can cause the same problems as a leaking faucet, but can generally be fixed with simply sink and toilet repairs. In fact, most leaking faucets and running toilets can be fixed in just a matter of minutes. Sometimes upgrading the sinks or toilets in the home can also improve the water usage. Energy Star appliances and sinks use less water and function in a more effective way.
Other minor sink and toilet repairs that can generally be handled by the homeowner are things like installing dishwashers and other appliances, minor kitchen and bathroom sink repairs and regular drain cleaning services.
Other plumbing problems that are more major tend to require the services of a professional plumber. Some sink and toilet repairs can even be more advanced. However, things like frozen pipes and clogged plumbing lines generally require more specific knowledge. If frozen pipes are not handled correctly, for example, the pipes can burst, requiring brand new plumbing throughout the entire home. Frozen pipes can be prevented by constantly running warm water through the pipes during cold weather. Most homes use their plumbing systems so often that they do not need to worry about this. However, this can be a problem in homes that are vacant or when homeowners are away on vacation for long periods of time.
When the outside temperature drops below 20 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 6 degrees Celsius), water pipes in homes with little or no insulation are likely to freeze and break. In fact, a one eight inch ( 3 millimeter) crack in a pipe can spew out more than 250 gallons of water per day, destroying floors, furniture, appliances and personal items, according to IBHS.
The plumbing is an important and necessary part of any home. Without it, many homes would not be livable. Minor plumbing problems can be handled by the homeowner, such as running toilets, minor faucet leaks and drain clogs. However, some plumbing problems, like frozen pipes and broken pipes should be left to professional plumber contractors. If these problems are not corrected properly, they can lead to very expensive and expansive damages to the home.
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