Buying Your First Home? Answers To Questions You Might Have About Plumbing Issues
Buying your first home is an exciting experience, but it can also be a frightening one, especially when it comes to home repairs. When you were a kid, your parents took care of the repairs. If you rented after you moved out on your own, your landlords took care of those repairs. However, now that you're living in your own home, you're responsible for the repairs.
One area that you'll probably be doing a lot of repairs will involve your plumbing. Unfortunately, if you don't have experience in the plumbing field, you might not know what to do, which can get you into trouble. Now that you're responsible for your plumbing repairs, here are three questions you might have.
What Do You Do When a Pipe Bursts?
During the winter, it's not uncommon for pipes to burst, especially when the temperatures go below freezing. However, there are other times when pipes can break, such as when you're digging in the yard and you strike an underground PVC pipe with your shovel.
Regardless of how the pipe bursts, when it does burst, you'll need to be ready act quickly. You'll need to get the water turned off as quickly as possible. To do that, you'll need to know where the main shut-off valve is located, usually outside the fence in the ground, under a cover. Once you locate the shut-off valve, turn it to the off position and leave it off until you can get the pipe fixed.
Why Is Your Water Pressure So Low?
It's not uncommon to have a problem with low water pressure from time to time. In most cases, it's because you have water running somewhere else in the house, such as in the washing machine or dishwasher. Other times, low water pressure can be caused by dirty faucet aerator screens.
If your water pressure is low, listen for the sound of running water. If you hear it, wait a few minutes and then check the pressure again. Next, remove the aerator screens from your faucets and give them a good cleaning. If those fixes don't take care of the water pressure issue, you'll need to have a plumber from companies like Drainman The come out and check your pipes.
Do You Need To Worry About Small Leaks?
If you've got a couple small leaks, you may think that it's okay to just leave them alone. Unfortunately, that thinking could end up costing you more in the long run. First, those leaks are going to make your water bill go up. Second, if the leaks are in the house, they could invite mold growth. Finally, if left alone, a small leak will eventually turn into a big leak that's going to need bigger, costlier repairs.
Don't get left with bigger plumbing problems. If you're facing any of the plumbing issues described here, get them taken care of as quickly as possible.