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Prevent Unwanted Water Leaks in Your Home with these Expert Tips
Home is where we hang our hat, relax, and enjoy some peace and solitude with our loved ones. After a hard day at work, we don’t want to have to worry about a broken toilet, or flooded basement.
On occasion, however, some of us do fall victim to leaks, and other unwanted maintenance issues around the house. Learn how to prevent some of those issues from arising, by following these expert tips.
Identify Leaks in Your Home
Big or small, water leaks are wasteful, expensive, and annoying. Learn to spot them before they become a larger problem than you would like to deal with.
Places Leaks Might Occur:
- Faucets
- Toilets
- Under the Sink
- Flapper Valves
These leaks will be easier to spot, as you may see surface water forming around the areas, or hear a toilet running. Regularly monitor your water meter reading, to check for spikes in usage.
If you still detect a leak, shut off all water inside and outside the home. Don’t use any water for about an hour, and wait. If your meter reading went up, you most likely have a leak you can’t see, and it’s time to call a plumber.
Avoid Pipe Corrosion
Pipe corrosion is the deterioration of water supply pipes. This occurs from frequent interaction with certain elements. Pipe corrosion can be avoided by taking a few simple steps.
- Regularly have your pipes cleaned.
- Avoid pouring gritty substances down the drain.
- Check your water pH for too acidic or too alkaline water, this can damage pipes, keep your pH between a 7.0 - 8.0.
- Stay away from pouring harsh chemicals into the drain.
- Install a Phosphate feeder to coat copper pipes and stop corrosion.
Stay Away From Chemical Clog Removers
While it seems like a quick fix, chemical clog removers can do more harm on your pipes than good. These clog removers have harsh chemicals that can eat away at your pipes, causing corrosion, and ultimately leaks.
Instead of using chemicals in your drains, try a less harsh, chemical-free version in a pinch. When faced with a clog, pour half a cup of salt down the drain, followed by boiling hot water. Then flush it out with hot water, until the clog has cleared.
If this method still does not rid you of your clogged drain, you have two more options. You can head to a hardware store, and purchase a drain snake, which will snake out the clog. A drain snake costs around $20.00. Or, you can call a plumber and they will snake the drain for you, ensuring the clog is removed.
Try Reducing Water Pressure
Too much water pressure can also cause issues in your home if left undetected. Water pressure should sit at or below 80 psi, anything higher than that is too much for the pipes, and can start to cause damage.
Installing a water pressure regulator is an inexpensive way to monitor the pressure in your home, avoiding leaks and any other unnecessary problems. You can pick one up at any hardware store in San Antonio, TX, for about $30.00.
Prevention is the key ingredient to keeping your home functioning and maintaining your peace of mind. Start using these expert tips, and you’ll save yourself a lot of future hassle.
