Water-Saving Plumber Tips For Your Home’s Plumbing | Arlington, TX
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All homeowners all want to save money on their plumbing, which is why we wrote this article. We’ll be giving you helpful tips on conserving water at home and preventing plumbing emergencies that may cost you a fortune in repairs. Should you need further assistance, please get in touch with a plumber in Arlington, TX.
Plumbing Tips:
Repair Leaky Faucets and Pipes
Hidden leaks don’t only damage your home’s interior, but they can also cause skyrocketing water bills. Thankfully, there are signs that you should look out for to determine if there are hidden leaks in your plumbing. Damp walls, cracks in the pavement, excess mold, or a drop in water pressure are some signs. If your water bill is suddenly high, this could also indicate something wrong with your plumbing. Contact a plumber immediately when you suspect that there might be a leak in your plumbing. Our professional plumbers can thoroughly inspect all your appliances, fixtures, and pipes and inform you if problems need to be addressed.
Remember, you can waste hundreds of gallons of water with hidden leaks, which is why you must get in touch with a licensed plumbing service in Arlington, TX, as soon as possible.
How to find leaks:
Apart from monitoring your water bill, you can also check for leaks using the water meter. First, turn off all faucets and don’t use your plumbing appliances. Then check the water meter and take note of the number that you see there. Make sure that no one else is using your water for 30 minutes. Next, look at the water meter and check the numbers you see. If it changes, then there is a leak in your plumbing. Contact a plumber right away.
For the toilet, drop a few food coloring in the toilet tank and wait for about 15 minutes. Check the water in the toilet bowl if it changes. When it does, then there is a toilet leak. Get in touch with a professional immediately.
A reminder: Since it’s almost winter, ensure that you protect your pipes, especially when the temperatures start dropping. It’s common knowledge that pipes may freeze when the temperature hits below zero, but you can prevent this by insulating your pipes and other exposed plumbing fixtures outside. If you suspect that your pipes may have frozen, please contact a professional right away.
Install a Rain Barrel
Do you want to save more water? Why don’t you install a rain barrel to catch rainwater from your roof? You can use this water for your lawn. Doing this can help you reduce your water bills and it’s an inexpensive way to save water in your home’s plumbing.
Install Sprinklers with Timers
Putting your sprinklers on a timer ensures that you never waste water again. Without the timer, you may forget to turn off the sprinkler, and you can waste hundreds of gallons of water. To maximize savings, consider setting the timer early in the morning so that the water doesn’t evaporate right away. Besides the timer, you may also consider installing sensors in your sprinklers. The sensors can skip irrigation cycles when there is rain.
Another option is to use a drip irrigation system to uniformly water the lawn. It uses a small amount of water and ensures that there are no dead grasses on your lawn. If you need more information or are ready to install timers, sensors and drip irrigation systems, contact a plumber in Arlington, TX, right away.
Install a Sump Pump
If you have a basement, then we recommend that you install a sump pump. You can prevent flooding in the basement and costly water damage with this device. Contact a plumber if you’re ready to install a sump pump for your basement.
When there’s a storm coming, please also make sure that your sump pump works. Test it days before the storm and consider buying backup batteries just in case of a power outage. Ensure that you also properly maintain your sump pump to extend its lifespan.
Water damage can cost you thousands of dollars on repairs and restorations, but you can avoid additional costs by investing in a sump pump. For installation, do make sure to only work with professional plumbers in Arlington, TX.
Replace Conventional Toilets With Dual Flush Toilets
You can reduce water consumption by more than 60 percent by installing dual flush toilets. The dual flush system lets you use different buttons for flushing solid and liquid waste. Speak with a plumber in Arlington, TX, if you’re thinking about installing a new toilet for your home.
Invest in Energy-Efficient Appliances
To up your water and energy savings, we highly recommend that you replace old plumbing appliances with energy-efficient appliances. Energy-efficient dishwashers and washing machines use less water than their counterparts, helping you save more money. While they can be a little expensive compared to the standard models, you can save money in the long run. However, it’s crucial that you only hire licensed professionals to ensure that the appliances are correctly installed. Poor installation can lead to inefficiency problems and frequent repairs.
To extend the lifespan of your system, periodically check your appliances for any signs of wear and tear or other issues. If you suspect that there might be a problem, please get in touch with a professional immediately.
Install Leak Detection Devices
When it comes to preventing major water damage that can ruin your home’s foundation, we highly encourage that homeowners get leak detection devices. These devices can alert you when there is a risk of flooding in your home or temperature fluctuations in your plumbing. It’s a handy device that lets you avoid costly water damage that may not be covered by your homeowner’s insurance. For installation, only work with licensed plumbers in your area to avoid issues down the road.
Schedule Regular Plumbing Inspections
You can address potential plumbing problems early that may lead to costly water damage by scheduling a regular inspection with a licensed plumber. The plumber will check your pipes, fixtures, and appliances during the inspection to ensure they’re working efficiently. If there are problems, the plumber can also help you correct them. If you want to avoid system breakdowns and costly repairs, please make sure that you schedule an inspection at least once a year.
Get a New Showerhead
You can save water by cutting your shower time in half, but some homeowners may not be very willing to do this. So another option is to invest in a low-flow showerhead to reduce the water flow in your shower. It’s an effective way to conserve water at home and save money.
Cover Your Swimming Pool
If you own a swimming pool, we suggest that you cover it with either plastic or vinyl to reduce maintenance and heating costs. Covering can also reduce water evaporation and prevents leaves or other dirt from entering the water. As a result, you can save about 30 percent water by covering your pool and reducing chemical consumption by about 35 percent.
Buy an Aerator for Your Faucets
To limit the water flow in your kitchen and bathroom faucets, we suggest that you install water aerators. They are fairly inexpensive and also easy to install. However, if you’re not confident about how to go about installing them, then contact a plumber in your area.
Maintain Your Water Heater
If you have a water heater, ensure that you flush out the sediment buildup in the tank. Failure to get rid of the mineral buildup inside can affect the efficiency of your water heater and increase your utility bills. Flush your water heater tank at least once a year or more when there is a high concentration of hard water in your plumbing.
Also, periodically check your water heater for leaks and if there are issues, call a plumber immediately. If you want to avoid water heater leaks, consider investing in a tankless water heater for your home. You can save water and energy as it’s an on-demand water heater, meaning you use energy only when you’re getting hot water, whereas, with the tank-type, you will need to keep heating the water. You won’t need a bigger space with the tankless water heater as you can mount that on your bathroom wall. They also last twice as long compared to conventional heaters. So while they cost a little more, you can save money in the long run. For installation, please only work with a licensed plumber in Arlington, TX.
Never Ignore Plumbing Problems
Some homeowners only think about their plumbing when there are major problems. They ignore minor leaks thinking it wouldn’t affect them. Please remember that you waste hundreds of gallons of water when you don’t fix a small leak. That may also progress to a bigger problem if you don’t address it right away.
You can prevent major plumbing emergencies that will cost you a fortune in repair if you contact a professional right away. When you suspect there might be issues with your pipes, appliance or fixture, please contact us immediately so we can quickly dispatch a plumber to your location. Our professionals can inspect your plumbing, diagnose the problem, and then provide you with cost-effective solutions.
Hire Licensed Professionals for Repairs and Installations
Do you need plumbing repairs or major plumbing installations? Please never cut corners and hire only professionals. A handyperson may offer his services at a lower price, but you don’t get a service guarantee. You’re also not certain if he has all the tools and equipment needed to get the job done. Most importantly, a handyperson doesn’t have insurance because he isn’t licensed. If he gets injured while on the job, you will have to pay for his medical expenses. A licensed professional is fully equipped and has years of experience handling repairs and installations. He can also guarantee high-quality service on every appointment.
Avoid DIY Plumbing
Some homeowners may also opt to do repairs or installations on their own. Unless you’re doing minor plumbing repairs, please don’t attempt to do this. A mistake could lead to a costly replacement or more repairs. Always get help from licensed professionals in your area to avoid issues down the road.
A DIY video you found on YouTube may be informative, but it may not contain enough information to help you correct a problem if you make a mistake. To be on the safer side, get help from licensed plumbers instead.
Winterize Your Plumbing
Are you going away for the holidays? Please winterize your plumbing to conserve water and avoid costly water damage. Insulate all exposed drain pipes at home and your outdoor plumbing too. Drain your water lines by turning off the water supply to the outdoor faucets. Make sure that you drain all the remaining water. If you need further assistance, please contact a plumber.
Other tips to winterize your plumbing:
- Open all your cabinet doors so that warm air can circulate in the pipes underneath the sink.
- Seal all air leaks to prevent cold air inside your homes. Check for leaks around your windows and doors, and seal them completely. If possible, improve the insulation in your home, especially the attic.
- Shut off the water main to avoid flooding in your home. Make sure that you also clean the gutters to allow water to flow.
Hire Professionals You Can Trust ā Call Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Fort Worth
Do you need a plumber in Arlington, TX? Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us anytime. Our team of licensed professionals is always ready to help! We are always on time and fully equipped to ensure that all problems are resolved on the same day. For your peace of mind, Benjamin Franklin Plumbing also offers 100 percent complete service satisfaction. No job is too small or big for us ā our team can fix it on the same day. So get in touch with us today for an appointment.