Preventing Plumbing Emergencies

Don’t Make a Mistake

Reduce the risk of plumbing mistakes by putting some basic principles into practice, Watch what you put in your sink drains. Chances are very high that things you put down the drain were never meant to go in there. Many people pour stuff down the drain that has no business being in pipes and eventually leads to clogs and leaks.

Grease

Don’t ever pour grease in your sink drain. Pour it into a glass or ceramic container and let it harden. Once it does, throw it away in a trash can.

Drain Cleaners

Yes, drain cleaners will eat through clogs but they may also eat through your drain lines. After using a liquid drain cleaner only once you can create multiple leaks in your drain which will add up to big dollars in repair cost.

Food Waste

Most food waste isn’t meant to go down the drain even if you have a garbage disposal. Cabbage, carrots, eggshells, peels, etc. shouldn’t go in the disposal. Most kitchen garbage disposals are designed for the stuff you scrape off your plate at the end of a meal not for all the husks and stuff that’s left after you cook the meal. Also, you should never flush food waste, trash, or paper down the toilet. In fact, the only thing you should ever put in your toilet (other than the obvious) is toilet paper. Else, you will have to hire a toilet repair in Austin, TX.

Unclog It

If you do get a clog and it will happen, treat the clog correctly. Use a plunger or a plumber’s snake to pull the clog free, and nothing else. The last thing you want to do is stick a coat hanger in there and start poking around, because you may poke a hole through a pipe or a rubber seal and create a much bigger problem.

Manageable Emergencies

If you’re aware of what’s going on with your plumbing, you’ll be alerted to problems as soon as they begin. Catching these problems before they blossom into emergencies is crucial. Noticing a change in your water pressure may be a red flag. A change in water pressure could signal that there is a leak in your water line somewhere. Noticing your plumbing is the first step in preventing an emergency.

Shut-off Valve Locations

Your toilet, kitchen sink, and water heater probably all have their own shut-off valve. There is also a main shut-off valve to your house. Locate your shut-off valves, and they may become your savior one day. When a pipe bursts or a big leak appears out of nowhere, run for the shut-off valve so you don’t end up with a flood of water. When the water is shut off, you can start to deal with the problem that’s causing all the trouble.

Basement

The sump pump is designed to pump excess water out and away from your home. If there is a flood in the basement due to a plumbing problem, the sump pump should kick in and help remove that excess water before it starts to destroy everything.
Emergencies are going to happen, and they’re going to be a lot worse if you don’t know what to do when they happen. In case of emergencies, consider reaching out to a local plumbing service in Austin, TX, for professional assistance.

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