How to prevent most common plumbing problems
Plumbing is an essential part of home maintenance and can cause you a whole host of problems if you don’t keep yourself in the know. Here are a few of the most common plumbing issues and how to alleviate them:
Leaks
This is one of the most common problems and it exists for a variety of reasons, the most obvious being bad installation. You should ask yourself this question before you get your equipment installed: Am I willing to fork out for a good plumber who actually knows what he is doing? If the answer is no then you deserve that leak! If the answer is yes then you can look forward to a leak-free existence. However, do keep in mind that leaks can also appear due to worn out equipment,and so you might find yourself having to buy little extras to keep on top of maintenance. After all, everything has a shelf-life!
Burst pipes
As pipes freeze they will inevitably burst so to prevent this from happening you should ensure that your pipes have extra thick insulation, leave your heating on if you are going on holiday. Just be warned that if you do find yourself with burst pipes then you could also find yourself with empty pockets, so just be warned that this mistake is costly yet easily preventable, so ignore at your own peril!
Blockages
This can be something you find yourself having to deal with time and time again, with no real light at the end of the tunnel. Your weekly efforts to unblock that sink or trap leads to a feeling of disgust and despair but fear not, there are ways to prevent this from happening. All you have to remember is not to let things go down the sink that shouldn’t, and that includes your girlfriend’s long hair or your boyfriend’s overgrown beard! Obviously, in the grand scheme of things, mistakes are always made and so for these instances alone you should keep a sink plunger at home and invest in some gloves.
Rusty radiators
You’ve noticed your radiators radiating not just heat but a brown tinge around the edges; yes you’ve guessed it, that my friend is RUST. This is caused by corrosive water within the system. To prevent your radiators circulating corrosive water what you should do is buy something called an inhibitor, which makes the water inside smoother and softer leading to easier circulation and hence, no rust. It’s quite cheap to buy and run, and so the only thing in your house that will be left rusting will be your wallet!
Fortunately, as everyone is privy to the age-old saying of prevention being as good as cure; in this case your cure is an easy one: Maintenance!