While you may not give it much thought, your plumbing system has become an essential part of your everyday life. It only makes sense to do your part to prevent issues from happening. One of the best ways to know how to prevent issues is by first identifying the most common issues that homeowners face.
Clogged Drains
Probably the most common issue that all homeowners face at one point or another with their plumbing system is a clogged drain line. Clogs can form due to different reasons, such as putting items down the drain that shouldn’t go in the drain. In most cases, you’ll need to have one of our plumbing professionals perform a drain cleaning service to remove the clog from your line.
To help prevent this issue from happening in the first place, there are a few different things that you can implement. First is ensuring that you put strainers over all your drains to catch loose debris like food particles or hair. Avoid putting any grease, fats, or oils down your drain as these can form a gel-like substance and attract loose particles. Additionally, it can be beneficial to invest in professional drain cleaning services every year to remove any debris inside your drain lines before it’s able to form a clog.
Leaky Faucets
Unfortunately, one issue that homeowners tend to ignore for too long is a leaky faucet. While it may not seem like a huge problem at first, a faucet that leaks will continually waste your water and increase your energy bills. There are a few different reasons that a faucet may end up leaking over time. One of the most common is a faulty O-ring or worn-out washer. One of the best ways to prevent this issue is to make sure that you’re regularly having your faucets serviced or replaced when they reach the end of their estimated lifespan.
Low Water Pressure
One particularly frustrating issue you may deal with is low water pressure in your line. It’s important to check both the cold and hot sides to determine if the issue is just with your water heater or with your entire plumbing system. If the problem is with your entire plumbing system, there could be a couple of different culprits.
Some of these include clogged water supply lines, a faulty pressure regulator, a water leak, a faulty fixture, and a water shut-off valve that is partially closed. Probably the most effective way to prevent this issue from happening is to invest in getting a whole-home plumbing inspection every two years. A good plumber will be able to identify if any of your plumbing components are starting to fail so they can be replaced before they create major problems like low water pressure.
Water Heater Issues
One of the most crucial components of your entire plumbing system is your water heater. Unfortunately, just like any other appliance in your home, your water heater can experience issues from time to time. No hot water, foul-smelling water, rust-colored water, and leakage are some of the most common issues that homeowners experience.
Probably the most effective way to prevent water heater issues is to have a professional perform maintenance on your water heater at least once a year. If you live in a region with hard water, you may want to consider service every six months. Additionally, those with hard water should consider investing in a water softener to help reduce the amount of sediment that ends up inside your water heater tank.
Frozen Pipes
When winter weather comes to the Seattle area, it can bring along with it some cold temperatures. Whenever the temperature drops below freezing, your water lines can freeze if they are not properly insulated. When water lines freeze, they not only prevent water from coming out but can end up expanding and bursting the pipe.
The most effective way to prevent the freezing of your water pipes is to ensure that they’re properly insulated. Any piping that isn’t in a heated location of your home, like in your garage, should get foam insulation. In some cases, you may want to consider installing a heat cable that will automatically heat the water whenever it senses temperatures are getting near freezing.
Reliable Plumbing Repair Service
Rush Plumbing Inc offers reliable plumbing repair services for the Seattle area. We can also help with all your drain cleaning, piping, plumbing fixtures, water heater, commercial, preventative maintenance, leak detection, drain cleaning, sewer cleaning, and sump pump needs. Simply call our office today to schedule an appointment with one of our plumbers.
