Plumbing disasters in your home can cause untold damage to your property. It is not uncommon to come home only to find water leaking through the walls or ceiling. Major plumbing disasters often occur because minor issues were allowed to fester for too long. If you don’t solve common plumbing problems as they arise, you will not be able to avert the crisis that is surely coming your way. Here are some plumbing maintenance tips that can help you prevent a major plumbing disaster.
1. Water Pressure Checks
The pressure of water in your house can easily bring down your entire plumbing system. It is important to check for leaks and fissures as often as possible. If you find any anomalies, you need to have them fixed immediately. This is the best way to prevent plumbing issues caused by water pressure inconsistency.
2. Maintenance Checks for Your Toilets
If you suspect that your toilet is leaking, have it checked. Inspect the bottom of the tank located at the back of your toilet. It is possible that the flapper (the rubber cover that releases the water when you flush the toilet) has warped out of place giving space for water to leak. If this is the case, you can easily replace the part to get rid of the leaks. An easy way to check if this is the cause of the leak is to place a small amount of food color in the tank and leave it overnight. If there is food color in the toilet bowl in the morning, you will have found the source of the leak.
3. Re-Caulking the Toilet
There has been an ongoing debate over the usefulness of caulk around the toilet base. This is because inside toilet leaks are actually prevented by the wax seal ring located at the bottom of the commode and not the waterproof caulk as most people believe. But the thing is, when the wax ring deteriorates it is the caulk that prevents leaking. This makes it hard for you to notice a defect in the wax ring.
Caulk also prevents leaking of water from overflows or the shower from getting to the toilet area. If water accesses this area, it can cause your floor to rot and leave your toilet looking unsightly and unhygienic. Do a bit of maintenance in your toilet every so often to prevent damage to the floor in case of an overflow. Also, re-caulk if there is need to do so.
4. Cleaning Your Tank
It is normal for thick layers of metal strains, bacteria, and scale to build up inside the toilet tank if it is not cleaned often. Water moves from the tank to the refilling bowl whenever you flush the toilet. When your tank is dirty, the dirt is transferred to your toilet bowl causing stains. The easiest way to prevent this problem is by cleaning the tank as often as possible.
5. Cleaning the Toilet Bowl
Having a toilet that is always clean and sparkly is not only appealing but also healthy. Keeping your toilet clean also prevents corrosion and toilet clogging. It also makes it possible to detect maintenance issues faster.
Get in touch with Drain Rescue plumbers to help deal with niggling plumbing problems in your home.
