Tips For Avoiding Plumbing Leaks
No one should have to deal with plumbing leaks. Leaks can cause water damage, increase water bills, trigger structural damage, and even encourage mold growth. Fortunately, you can take the following measures to reduce the risk of plumbing leaks in your house.
Replace Worn Parts
Your plumbing system is subject to wear and tear, just like other critical installations in your house. Leakages occur when the wear affects the parts of the system that should prevent leaks. Some of the affected parts include hoses (such as washing machine hoses), valves (such as those in your water heater), and washers (such as those in your faucets). You need to replace these parts when they wear out so that you can avoid leakages.
Maintain Safe Water Pressure
Your water pipes are designed to handle a certain limit of water pressure. Exceeding this limit may cause the pipes to burst or force water through the joints or pipe connections. Therefore, maintaining a safe level of water pressure is another way of preventing water leaks. In many cases, this is as simple as ensuring that the water pressure regulator outside the house is set correctly. High water pressure can also be caused by plumbing malfunctions or defects that require professional diagnosis and solutions.
Prevent Blockages
It's not just water supply pipes that can leak; even the drain pipes that carry wastewater can leak. For example, drain blockages are a common cause of leaks from drainage pipes. The blockages reduce the effective diameters of the pipes. This increases the pressure of the liquid wastes, which can damage the drain pipes or cause leakages.
Prevent Corrosion
For metal plumbing pipes, there is also the issue of corrosion that can also lead to pipe damage and water leaks. Multiple things can cause your pipes to corrode. Examples include water acidity, high water temperatures, dissolved minerals, and high water pressure, among others. Some of these you can control while others are outside your control. Manage the factors you can control, such as water temperature and pressure, to prevent corrosion and avoid leaks.
Don't Let the Pipes Freeze
Lastly, your plumbing system can also leak during the cold season when the pipes freeze and burst. Frozen pipes can burst because water expands when it freezes. Ensure your house is properly insulated and heated to prevent pipe freezing. It also helps to drain the pipes, especially if you are going away for a long time so that they don't have water in them that can freeze.
For more information, contact a plumber in your area.