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The US Environmental Protection Agency estimates that about 10 percent of all American homes have plumbing leaks that waste approximately 10 gallons of water daily. Yearly, about one trillion gallons of water are wasted that can be used in over 11 million homes.

To put this into perspective, the researchers believe that this is equivalent to the amount of water in 40 million swimming pools. The most common plumbing leaks occur due to worn toilet flappers, dripping faucets, and leaky valves. Without timely interventions, these leaks can increase your household’s water utility bill by up to 10 percent.

Most homeowners in Granbury, TX, can quickly remedy most plumbing leaks with the help of a few tools. However, to ensure that you receive comprehensive and long-lasting solutions, you should always consider contacting your local plumber. Your home’s plumbing system has a sophisticated network of drains, pipes, and appliances that collaboratively work to make your life more convenient. This network is usually beyond the naked eye, which is why you may fail to identify minor plumbing issues before they’ve developed into more serious problems.

Luckily, understanding the inner workings of your residential plumbing system can help you know when it’s time to contact a professional near Granbury, TX before it’s too late. Read on to discover some of the primary issues you should understand about your home’s plumbing infrastructure.

The Basic Parts of a Residential Plumbing System

According to plumbers, every residential plumbing system features two essential parts; the intake water supply system and the wastewater drainage infrastructure. The plumbing system also has a water heating unit. Below’s a detailed description of all these parts.

The Water Supply or Intake System

Essentially, this is the system responsible for bringing fresh water into your residence. Water moving through the water intake infrastructure travels with a tremendous amount of pressure so that it can reach every point in the house where it’s required. Your plumber also fixes a meter, which mainly records the amount of water supplied to your home.

That said, you should understand the system to be easier to identify and handle leaks. Near the meter, there’s a shut-off valve that plumbers recommend should be turned off when faced with a plumbing emergency. This valve helps avoid in-house flooding, which can result in extensive water damage on your property. However, when the leakage is confined to just the sink, bathtub, faucet, or toilet, there’s no need to turn off the valve. Instead, you should consider contacting your local plumbing professional for timely and comprehensive solutions.

The Wastewater Drain System

Irrespective of whether your home uses a septic tank or sewer system, your plumber will tell you that all wastewater drainage systems are typically similar. After being used in various outlets in your home, the freshwater coming in through the water supply system becomes wastewater, which must be disposed of. For the water to reach outside, it will pass through the wastewater drainage system, which relies on gravity instead of the water supply infrastructure that works with the pressure rule.

In that regard, plumbers often install the pipes in this system angled downwards to ensure that the wastewater reaches into the septic tank or local sewer system for sewage treatment down the road. While the wastewater drainage system may sound simple, a deeper look into it can reveal its complexity. It’s made up of an extensive network of pipes that can be found in, outside, and around your residence. These pipes are usually concealed behind the walls and floors, which is why any problems they have should be left to professionals near you.

Specifically, the drainage system comprises traps, vents, and clean-out plugs. Traps, which are S- or curved-shaped pipes that can often be seen under the sinks, help prevent sewer gases from coming back into your home. They often feature clean-out plugs that allow you or your preferred plumber to quickly unclog the drains when necessary. On the other hand, Vents are usually mounted on the roof to eradicate the smelly air produced by the waste material that passes through the drainpipes.

The Hot Water Supply System

Although the previously discussed water intake system ensures that your home has enough water for all kinds of routine household activities, the water is often cold or at room temperature. That said, your plumber may install a water heater if you need hot water within your residence. Once installed, it will draw water from the main supply line, where it will be heated and transported via the hot water line, which is connected to the relevant outlets and fixtures.

The water heater has a thermostat that dictates the temperature the water should reach, and it helps maintain the defined temperature even as the heating element goes on and off. Your plumber may recommend setting the thermostat at temperatures of between 140 to 160 degrees Fahrenheit. However, modern hot water appliances may need the thermostat to be set at temperatures higher than 120 degrees to ensure that they remain operationally efficient all year round.

Plumbing Projects That Should Only Be Handled by a Professional Technician

As predetermined, there are some plumbing issues that homeowners can easily address. Even though there are tools available to make this possible, you should always prioritize working with a professional when faced with a plumbing emergency. With that in mind, below are some of the plumbing projects that should be left exclusively to professional service providers near Granbury, TX.

Water Heater Installation and Repair

The water heater allows you to enjoy a hot shower whenever you need it, depending on the type of system your home uses. However, it should be properly maintained if you need it to maintain its functional efficiency. Some water heater maintenance can be completed alone without any professional assistance, such as getting rid of sediment buildup if your home relies on a water heater tank. Despite that, more technical endeavors such as replacing or repairing the system may require the services of a local professional plumber.

You should avoid DIY water heater repair at all costs due to safety concerns. Additionally, since water heaters often comprise complex electrical connections that you may not have enough knowledge of, attempting to service your unit may only cause more serious problems down the line.

Bathroom and Kitchen Remodeling

Besides a licensed and trained plumbing service technician, remodeling your home’s bathroom or kitchen may also require help from a reliable construction company near you. A bathroom or kitchen remodeling project may involve some non-plumbing-related activities, which is why the latter may come in handy.

During this time, new appliances such as dishwashers and garbage disposal systems may need to be installed, a feat that can be dangerous and nigh impossible for any person that’s not trained to handle the installation of plumbing appliances. A professional plumber can help you choose quality fixtures based on your budget and home’s style.

Pipe Replacement

Laying the pipes that support the functioning of your residential plumbing infrastructure is a complex undertaking. If the pipes are outdated, frequent plumbing issues may be inevitable. In such scenarios, a pipe replacement service may be in order. Otherwise, you’ll always end up forking out more cash as you struggle to keep up with the consistent plumbing problems. Replacing the pipes may require some digging, and piping projects often require strict adherence to local building codes and standards. You may lack enough knowledge of these codes and regulations, which can cause trouble with local authorities. Therefore, you should leave such services to your professional plumber.

Resolving Major Clogs and Leaks

With basic knowledge of using specific plumbing equipment, you can easily fix some of the minor clogs you may encounter within your residence. Regardless, significant clogs may exceed your level of DIY savviness, prompting the need for assistance from a professional plumber near you. Such blockages may require the use of specialized tools such as inspection cameras that can allow you to effectively determine the cause of the clog. These tools may not be readily available to the average homeowner, which is why you may need professional solutions from a licensed plumbing service technician.

Past that, fixing major leaks may also be tricky if you don’t have the training and tools needed to complete the service. These leaks often stem from the main water line. Therefore, regardless of whether your home’s plumbing has a major or minor leak or clog, you should always consider contacting your local plumber for informed solutions.

Sump Pump Installation

A poorly installed sump pump may have two consequences. Firstly, it may fail to operate as it should, which can, in turn, cause flooding in the basement. That said, you should refrain from installing the sump pump by yourself and instead request assistance from your nearest plumbing service technician. During their visit, you can also request information on what you need to do to protect your residence when there’s a storm.

Common Plumbing Problems that You May Encounter

Your residential plumbing infrastructure can serve your household for decades, but that doesn’t mean that it’s immune to problems resulting from regular wear and tear. Therefore, below are some of the common plumbing problems any homeowner in Granbury, TX, may encounter.

Dripping Faucets

This often seems like a minor issue that you would expect to fester out without any intervention. However, it can lead to significant water wastage and consequently the unnecessary wastage of your hard-earned cash. Your plumber can help you get ahead of the problem by either fixing or replacing the problematic faucets.

Low Water Pressure

Low water pressure can put quite a drag on your day. It’s often a result of low pressure from the water main due to problems with the pressure regulator valve or because of an improperly open or completely closed shut-off valve. You can eliminate the probability of low water pressure by scheduling a plumbing maintenance service with your local plumbing service provider at least once yearly.

No Hot Water

While the lack of hot water in your household can be a major inconvenience, it’s among the most common plumbing issues you’re bound to encounter. Luckily, you can easily prevent water heater problems by creating a regular maintenance and inspection schedule with your local plumber. The inspection should be conducted at least annually, where the technician will check the tank’s condition, anode rod, and valves.

Running Toilets

The noise from a running toilet can be quite a bother, sometimes even causing you to lose sleep. Besides that, running toilets can waste significant amounts of water if left unchecked for too long, which can drastically affect your household’s water utility bill.

A toilet may start running if it has dirty, warped, broken flappers, a loose chain, or a misplaced floater. Although most homeowners can easily fix a running toilet, a plumbing specialist should be sought if the issue occurs frequently.

Clogged Drainage

As an essential part of your home’s plumbing system, drains help distribute wastewater from your residence to the sewer system or septic tank for sewage treatment. The wastewater may contain wide-ranging substances, including mineral deposits, solid food remnants, hair, and lint. With time, these materials may accumulate within the walls and drain openings, causing the drainage system to clog. Additionally, homes that have surpassed the 20-year mark may have more frequent clogs than newer residential properties.

Although you may consider purchasing over-the-counter drain cleaning products to eliminate the problem, the chemicals used to manufacture them may corrode the pipes, giving rise to more issues. That said, if your Granbury, TX home has frequent drain clogs, the best course of action would be to schedule a drain cleaning service with a licensed plumber near you.

Don’t Hesitate. Call the Professional Plumbers at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Fort Worth

Know that you know what your plumbing system comprises, don’t hesitate to contact the professional plumbers at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Fort Worth when in need of professional assistance.

With extensive experience servicing residential properties in Granbury, TX, and the surrounding areas, we offer drain cleaning, plumbing repair, camera inspection, and appliance installation services. Other solutions we provide include water heater installation and slab leak detection and repair.