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Fixing Water Leaks in the Right Way

Leaking pipes, fittings, and other plumbing structures are a major cause of water wastage in all households. According to research, a typical home loses around 2,000 to 20,000 gallons of water on a yearly basis because of leakages. While some of the water leaks are quite obvious, such as leaking water heaters and dripping faucets, there are several other water leaks that may go undetected for several months only because the source of such leakages is not visible.

Undetected water leaks not only waste water but also cause a considerable rise in the water bill. Considering the amount of damage done by these leaks, fixing them becomes essential.

While some of the leaks can be fixed at home by the homeowners without much expertise, others may not be so easy to tackle. In the later case, you will have to hire the services of a professional to deal with the problems in your plumbing.

Here are a few tips to make the decision easy for you and help you with fixing the leaks:

Performing Routine Checks

In most cases, homeowners fail to perform a routine check on the pipes of the house. As a result, they end up finding themselves standing in water puddles accumulating inside their basements and causing serious damage to their valuable items.

If you want to examine your house plumbing to avoid this scenario, but you have no idea what you should be looking for, here are a few aspects to check with the plumbing:

  • Check for drops of water dripping from a visible source
  • Check the pipes for any signs of rust
  • Listen for sounds of dripping water
  • Notice if the water pressure has dropped suddenly
  • Fix blockages and clogs immediately to avoid pipe damage

Insulating the Pipes

Exterior pipes are an important feature of every structure that must be duly checked. In the winter season, when the water in the pipes remains stagnant, the pipes are at a risk of freezing. Once frozen, the pipes can crack or lead to leaks as they thaw in the warmer weather. However, there is minimal risk of this happening if the water is moving through the pipes at regular intervals.

Therefore, it is advisable to turn on the faucets regularly, simply to keep the water flowing. A better option is always to insulate the place as well as the pipes completely to avoid such emergencies from occurring.

Setting the spigot valve back

It is ideal to have a frost-free host bib installed for your pipes. This is especially crucial if the pipe is passing through a cement base. A frost-free hose bib will stop the freezing of the pipes by allowing you to shut the water off inside your home.

Adjusting the Radiator appropriately

Keeping an open valve and a good level for the radiator is always a good idea. Check the radiator’s pitch first and make sure that in every case, it is pitched back to the steam’s source. This is essential so that if the water condenses, it is drained back towards the boiler.

Ensuring that the water heater isn’t leaking

In case of water heaters, water leaks are almost fatal. If the lining at the base of the water heater wears off, it results in water leaks. To tackle this issue, it will be better to call the manufacturer and provide them the model number for the device. If the product is still under warranty, you will get a new water heater. However, make sure that you install a pan under it this time to avoid any future problems.

Knowing that Faucets will ultimately leak

When shifting to a new house, most people appreciate that the faucets are already in place. However, others would like to replace the faucets and have new ones installed. The latter is a better practice since the older the faucet, the more difficult it will be for you to find its parts in case it gets corroded and useless. With faucets, it is better to install a new one instead of trying to fix the present one as that will be economical and hassle free.

Checking the extent of a leak

In most cases, when you find a leak, you realize that it is inside the wall. If that is the case, then you must disassemble the entire plumbing fixture to have it fixed. It is sometimes possible to tighten a valve or pipes even with your bare hands without major repairs in order to check if the water stops leaking. In case that does not work, you can make use of a wrench to perform the task as well.

While most of these repairs sound easy and you may think that you can perform these at home, it may not always be the case. Moreover, if following the above techniques in case of the plumbing problems mentioned above does not work, you should never delay calling for an experienced and professional plumbing service.

If you are looking for reliable plumbing services in Arizona cities such as Apache Junction, Chandler, Fountain Hills, Gilbert, Golden Canyon, Higley, Mesa, Queen Creek, San Tan Valley, Scottsdale, Sun Lakes, and Tempe, then visit Mesa Plumbing.

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