Imagine that you have just gotten home after a long day. You are ready to relax, so you prepare yourself for a much-needed bath or shower. You run some water, step away to relieve yourself, flush the toilet, and then the unspeakable happens. You notice sewage and filthy water flowing up the drain into your tub or shower, destroying all chances of having the relaxing evening that you need. This is only one of the many possibilities when your main sewer line becomes clogged.
In 2016, people across the United States searched “main sewer line clog” on Google 1,551 times. That’s over 1,500 households who had to call a professional plumber to clear out their main sewer line, meaning 1,500 households struggled to live without clean, running water in their home until professional help arrived. This also means that over 1,500 people likely paid an after-hours or emergency service fee to the first plumber they could find.
These people experienced one of the “worst case” scenarios that occur when plumbing systems are left unchecked and unmaintained over time. There are steps and preventative measures that you can take to avoid these tragic situations. Continue reading to learn how you can save time and money by preventing plumbing emergencies.
Be Mindful
Use drain covers in your kitchen sink to prevent food and other foreign objects from clogging your drain. This can also extend the life of your garbage disposal.
Do not, under any circumstances, pour oils or grease down your drain. Additionally, do not pour oils or grease into your toilet bowl for disposal.
Take advantage of hair traps in your showers and bathtubs to prevent hair clogs. Hair traps make it easy to collect and safely dispose of hair that would otherwise clog your drains.
Pay attention to suspicious noises, unusual smells, leaks, and other indicators of a plumbing problem. Often, plumbing disasters can be prevented with a little vigilance.
Take Action
Save yourself the trouble and call a plumber as soon as you see or suspect a leak or clog. Remember, plumbing issues add up over time, and they can snowball into something tragic.
If you notice an issue, do not wait. Waiting until a plumbing issue becomes annoying will only make the issue worse. Furthermore, delaying professional attention gives the situation time to transform into a multitude of problems which will cost more than simply fixing a small issue.
Early action is the key to preventing additional, costly repairs. If you are unsure if you’re issues need professional attention, contact Jolly Plumbing to schedule an inspection.
Schedule Preventative Maintenance Inspections
You should have a professional plumber regularly inspect for leaks in all areas of your house. While you should already be on the lookout for leaks, a professional plumber has the experience necessary to truly know what to look for.
Old or damaged pipes and fixtures should be replaced. When a pipe or fixture becomes old and damaged, it can no longer serve its purpose effectively. This leads to issues with water waste, leaks, and unreliable water pressure.
Again, routine maintenance from a professional plumber is necessary to extend the life of your plumbing system.
Don’t Ignore Your Water Heater
Water heaters should be inspected every year to ensure proper functionality and safety.
Cold water isn’t the only thing that goes down the drain when your water heater is not functioning properly. Faulty water heaters constantly waste energy and money.
Regular repairs and maintenance from a professional will increase the useful life of your water heater.
Get Ready, Winter Is Coming
Cover all exposed piping with insulation before the temperatures drop below freezing.
Preparing for freezing weather conditions, or winterizing, will help prevent bursting and freezing during cold weather.
Insulated pipes also reduce the amount of energy needed to heat your water. Less work for your water heater leads to a less expensive utility bill.
Be Aware
Watch what you put down your drains. Most sinks in your home were not designed to handle anything more than their own flow of water.
Never flush any foreign objects down your toilet. Only using your toilet for its intended purposes will help prevent any serious clogs that cause damage to your plumbing system.
Try to use chemical clog removers as infrequently as possible. These chemicals can cause corrosion in your pipes. (You won’t need chemical clog removers if you don’t let any foreign objects get down your drains.)
If you have found yourself in the middle of a plumbing emergency, or if you just want some help preventing plumbing disasters, call Jolly Plumbing at (719) 473-8545 today. We would be happy to serve you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.