Whether you are a first-time homeowner or you’ve lived in your forever home for several years, chances are you’ll have to deal with a serious plumbing situation. However, that’s certainly not written in stone. Prevention measures and plumbing preventive maintenance is the key to avoiding catastrophic and expensive plumbing situations. Read on for seven tips on how to deal with common plumbing emergencies and how to prevent them.
Locate Main Water Shut Off Valve
Plumbing emergencies that necessitate turning off the main water shut off valve include a burst pipe, a broken bathtub handle, and a failed water heater. Turning off the main water shut off valve in these circumstances can save you a lot of water damage cleanup and money. Main water shut off valves are typically located in basements on the street side of the house. You may also look in your garage, an outside wall, and a utility room. If you ever do need to turn off the main valve, be sure to open a few faucets in your home to relieve pressure in the pipes.
Appliance Installation
Modern appliances are the delight of every homeowner. When you are updating your kitchen appliances or clothes washer and dryer, be sure to hire a professional plumbing company experienced in appliance installation. Pro appliance installation ensures your appliances will be installed correctly to prevent problems and repairs.
Water Heater Maintenance
You may not give much thought to your water heater until there’s a problem with hot water. Uneven shower temperatures, popping noises from the water heater, and a leaky temperature and pressure relief valve are water heater issues that require your attention to prevent a plumbing emergency. At the first sign of water heater problems, call your pro plumber. If your water heater is more than 10 years old, consider upgrading to a new high-efficiency water heater.
Winterize Pipes
Winterizing the pipes in your home is a smart and easy way to prevent a plumbing emergency. A frozen pipe that bursts can quickly cause a lot of water damage that is quite costly to restore. Pipe heat tape and insulation wraps are simple methods to prevent frozen pipes. Winterize all pipes in the unheated areas of your home.
Trip Planning
Are you planning a vacation away from home? Whenever you are away from home for more than a few days, you may want to turn off the main water shut off valve and your water heater. Remember to open a few faucets in the kitchen and bathroom to relieve pipe pressure once you turn off the main water shut off valve.
Timely Repairs
A leaky kitchen fixture or a running toilet aren’t exactly plumbing emergencies. However, it is very important that you don’t ignore or put off repairs to minor plumbing problems. That leaky faucet handle could break and that running toilet is wasting a lot of water. Making timely repairs to minor plumbing issues is the smart decision.
Call a Pro Plumber
If ever you do find yourself in a plumbing emergency, call a reputable plumbing company as soon as you can. When you have a reliable plumbing company in your contacts, rest assured you can count on them to arrive quickly to take care of the plumbing emergency.
When you need a pro plumber for a plumbing emergency, appliance installation, and water heater repair, contact the plumbing pros at MN Plumbing and Home Services. We serve more than 800 customers each and every month. Contact us online or call us at (952) 469-8341 for all your home and business plumbing needs!