Plumbing leaks are a major plumbing emergency. They also cost a lot especially when your home starts to flood. Fortunately, there are ways to prevent leaks in your plumbing. In this article, we’ll talk about the causes of plumbing leaks, how to know there might be a leak in your plumbing and effective tips to prevent an expensive plumbing leak. If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to contact a plumber in Arlington, TX today.
Causes of Leaks
Below are some of the causes of plumbing leaks. Make sure you take action when you notice these at home or when you suspect a problem with your plumbing system:
Tree Roots – When there’s a tiny leak in your plumbing and there are tree roots nearby, you could be facing a major plumbing emergency. Why? Roots are attracted to water or moisture. So a tiny leak in the pipe is enough for these tree roots to completely penetrate the pipes, making the problem worse. So if there are trees near your property, we suggest calling a professional so they can do something about it. And if you suspect a leak in your plumbing, please contact a plumber, immediately for professional leak detection. Our plumbing experts can thoroughly inspect your plumbing and we’ll help you resolve any issues that may come up.
High Water Pressure – Your home’s water pressure must be at normal levels because high water pressure can severely damage the pipes. If you don’t address the problem, you will likely end up with a costly plumbing leak. Remember, water damage is expensive and it can even jeopardize your home’s foundation. Not to mention the mold problem you may have to encounter if you don’t resolve this problem. Get a water pressure regulator to help you regulate your home’s water pressure. You can also contact a plumber if you need further assistance.
Frozen Pipes – This is a very common problem of leaks in your plumbing. When the temperature drops to zero or when it’s freezing outside, the water inside unprotected pipes can freeze. When this happens, the pipes can expand and then burst. You can prevent this from happening by protecting your pipes in the winter. If the water already froze, we suggest calling a plumber in Arlington, TX, immediately to help you thaw the pipes.
Shifts in Foundation – Although homeowners will not have control over this, it’s still best to take extra precautions. The best thing you can do is call a plumber for regular plumbing maintenance. A plumber can determine if there might be problems with your plumbing system that needs to be addressed. But don’t worry, he will help you resolve this problem as well.
No Plumbing Maintenance – As mentioned, you need to also maintain your plumbing to ensure it’s still in excellent shape. Some plumbing problems are not noticeable and only a plumber can determine this. With regular plumbing inspection, you won’t have to worry about hidden problems that may suddenly progress into an expensive plumbing repair. Don’t worry, our plumbing experts at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Fort Worth have been helping out homeowners and businesses for several years, and are quite familiar with plumbing — we’d be able to tell if there might be plumbing issues that need attention.
How to Know There’s a Leak in Your Plumbing
How do you know there might be a leak in your plumbing systems? Check out the signs below. Don’t forget to contact a plumber in Arlington, TX immediately for professional leak detection as soon as you notice the signs below.
High Water Bill – When the water bill has suddenly skyrocketed and you know you haven’t been using a lot of water recently, this indicates a leak somewhere in your plumbing. We urge you to further investigate by doing a water meter test. Just compare the results of the first reading to the second reading — if they’re different, there is likely a leak in your plumbing. We suggest you contact a plumber immediately for professional leak detection. Don’t wait until this issue will become a major plumbing emergency that will cost you more money and your home. Water damage is expensive and this is also associated with mold growth. You might end up calling restoration companies when mold starts to grow in your home.
Low Water Pressure – When there’s low water pressure in just one fixture, you might just need to tighten that. However, when there’s low water pressure in all showers and faucets, this usually indicates a leak in your plumbing. You have to address this the soonest possible time to avoid costly repairs. Also, if you have a water heater tank, the sediment can build up faster when the water pressure is low. Call a plumber in Arlington, TX immediately for professional leak detection. We’ll help you locate the leak and resolve the issue ASAP.
You See Signs of Leaks – Check all your appliances and fixtures, as well as your outdoor plumbing for any signs of leaks. Do you see pooling water near the water heater or the dishwasher? Call a plumber right away so they can thoroughly inspect your plumbing. Be very mindful of hidden leaks such as water spots in the ceiling or bulging wallpaper. This usually indicates a leak in your plumbing. When you hear noises in the pipes after turning on the faucet, that might be a leak too. We suggest getting professional leak detection. Our plumbing experts are equipped with the right tools to help us determine and locate the leak. We can also provide you with cost-effective plumbing solutions to permanently resolve the problem and ensure it doesn’t come back. Of course, you’ll have to also do your part by taking care of your plumbing to avoid a costly leak. In the next section, we’ll talk about helpful ways to prevent an expensive plumbing leak.
Helpful Tips to Prevent Costly Plumbing Leaks
No homeowner wants to pay for a costly plumbing repair or buy new appliances because the previous appliances were damaged by water. Check out the tips below for preventing a major leak in your household. Make sure you follow through with the tips and call us if you have questions or if you need the services of a plumber in Arlington, TX.
Know Your Plumbing
You’re not required to know everything about your plumbing but it always helps to have a little knowledge about it. Some things you need to know include the importance of periodically checking your plumbing and hiring a plumber for routine inspections, what mustn’t go down the drain or why you need to flush out the sediment buildup in the water heater. Feel free to check our blog for we’ve published quite a number of plumbing articles that will come in handy. We also have knowledgeable staff more than happy to assist you with your concern. Or if you need assistance in deciding what type of fixture or appliance to install for your home, we can help as well.
Educate Family Members
Do you have children at home? We urge you to educate them about how to properly care for the toilet and the drain. Tell them not to throw any small toys or food down the toilet and the kitchen drain as this can lead to a major drain clog.
Familiarize Your Appliances and Fixtures
Before using an appliance you haven’t tried before, we suggest you read the manual first to ensure you know how to actually use it. Otherwise, you could end up damaging the appliance or you end up calling a plumber for a major repair. Most importantly, do make sure to only hire a licensed plumber in Arlington, TX to help you install new appliances, especially major appliances. Some manufacturers may also require homeowners to get professional installation or they could lose their warranty. Our plumbing experts at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Fort Worth have been installing different plumbing appliances. Do reach out to us if you need assistance and we’ll quickly dispatch a plumber to your location right away.
Flush the Water Heater
Do you still have a conventional water heater tank installed in your home? Are you aware that you need to flush out the mineral buildup at least once a year? You may have to do this twice or more especially when you have hard water in your plumbing or when there’s low water pressure. Sediment can build up faster when there’s low water pressure. When this happens, you will have less space for hot water. You’ll start to have issues with the efficiency of your unit and you could end up getting a new one. To avoid a costly repair, drain the water heater at least once a year.
Should you decide to get a new unit, we also suggest you switch to tankless water heaters especially when your goal is to conserve energy and save money. With the tankless unit, you only use energy when turning the tap, which means you get to conserve energy. You can save money in the long run when there’s no standby heat loss. The tankless unit can also last up to 20 years, with little maintenance required, whereas, with the standard water heater, you only have up to 7-10 years. You don’t have to keep buying a new unit with a tankless water heater.
You also don’t need a bigger space for a tank for you can just install the tankless water heater on your bathroom wall. Do make sure to get it professionally installed to avoid having problems with the unit.
If you’ve been calling a plumber for water heater repair more than once a year, we suggest you get a new one. It’s more cost-effective to buy an energy-efficient water heater than keep paying for repairs that can add up. A tankless water heater may be a little more expensive than the standard unit but you get to save more money down the road.
Install Leak Detection Devices and Shut Off Valves
A leak detection device is a safety device that can alert you when it detects a possible leak in your household. They can send you a notification or a message so that you can call a plumber right away. Some models can also detect abnormal fluctuations in the water temperature. They can also automatically shut off your water to prevent further damage to your plumbing. If you need more information about leak detection devices, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. We’re more than happy to help out.
Get Stainless Steel Washing Machine Hoses
If you have plastic washing machine hoses that’s more than 10 years old, we recommend you switch to stainless steel hoses as they are less susceptible and they also last longer than plastic ones. For installation, ensure you call a professional to avoid issues down the road.
Install a Sump Pump
One of the most effective ways to prevent flooding in the basement is to install a sump pump. Before a coming storm though, make sure you test the device first to ensure it works. Also, get backup batteries just in case the power goes out. Additionally, don’t forget to properly maintain your device to extend its lifespan.
Call Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Fort Worth Today
Do you need a plumber in Arlington, TX today? You’ve come to the right place. Our plumbing experts can tackle any plumbing issue, big or small. There’s no plumbing repair we can fix; we’re fully equipped and highly trained to properly carry out the task. We can permanently resolve the problem and make sure it doesn’t recur in the future. Also, we guarantee 100% satisfaction for your peace of mind. You can trust us and rely on us for we are an established and trusted plumbing company that serves both homeowners and businesses. Call Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Fort Worth today for an appointment.