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How to Avoid the 4 Most Common Plumbing Emergencies
Surprisingly the five most common plumbing emergencies are the result of plumbing negligence. Blocked drains, freezing pipes, gas leaks and clogged toilets can all be prevented with a little more care on our part. We ignore leaky plumbing fixtures and noisy pipes until they escalate into costly plumbing emergencies by which time it is too late to undo the damage done. On time plumbing repairs will go a long way in preventing complicated plumbing emergencies.
Preventive maintenance is the key to avoid plumbing leaks, floods and clogs. Regular inspection of your plumbing system will enable you to spot early faulty parts and apply the appropriate do it yourself repair to resolve the problem. Regular plumbing maintenance will ensure the good working conditions of pipes, drains and plumbing fixtures and will save you the time and money otherwise spent in the plumbing emergency.
Plumber Washington DC advices people to carry out simple preventive plumbing maintenance to avoid plumbing emergencies. Follow the guide below to learn which SOS repair to conduct in case you encounter one of the five most common plumbing emergencies:
Burst Pipes
Split pipes waste gallons of water and cause extensive damage to the home and infrastructure if water supply is not closed off immediately. Instead of trying to pinpoint the damaged section of the pipe, locate the main shutoff valve and close it.
Closing the shutoff valve will turn off water supply to the plumbing fixtures and therefore stop the flood. Next release pressure in pipes by turning on cold water taps and draining trapped water and steam. Once you have stopped the continuous water flow and released pressure, call you local plumber Fairfax County to repair or replace the torn section of the pipe.
Frozen Pipes
Exposed pipes can freeze as temperatures drop in winter. For this reason pipes should be insulated with electrical heating tape in time for winter. As water changes to ice it takes more space in the pipe and therefore every frozen pipe can split open in due course. After turning off the shutoff valve, frozen pipes should be thawed gently with hot water bottles beginning from the end of the pipe nearest to the tap. Emphasis should be placed on gentle thawing and not with a naked flame to avoid thermal water expansion that can also burst open the pipe. After thawing the pipes it is best to call in your local plumber Loudoun County to follow up treatment.
Leaky Fixtures
Leaky toilets, dripping faucets and shower heads waste gallons of water and therefore should be repaired if only to save water from going down the drain. Again close the shutoff valve isolated to the leaky fixture. The leak can stem from clogs, worn parts, and more. It is best to call in your local Plumber Prince William County to provide the appropriate treatment.
Blocked Drains & Clogged Toilets
When showers, bathtubs, sinks and toilets drain slowly it is a red flag for a clogged pipe or blocked drain. Try a plunger and then a plumber's snake should the first apparatus fail to lift the obstruction. If both plumbing tools cannot clear the block then the problem might be located further down the system - call in the plumber for further treatment.
Additional service areas:
Northern Virginia (NoVa) - Plumber Fairfax county, Plumber Loudoun County, Plumber Prince William County, Springfield, Arlington, Alexandria, Annandale
Maryland (MD)