Imagine coming home from work only to find that you have a broken pipe that needs fixing. It isn’t necessarily getting in the way of your daily life in the house, so you decided to put it off for another day, tomorrow perhaps. You have had a long day after all, and you deserve a break. Life got in the way, and a few weeks later, you find your carpets drenched in water from the broken pipe that finally burst out of the walls and onto your floor. The reality is, a simple plumbing repair could have prevented all that mess.
But it is understandable that not all of us has the luxury of time or money to call in professional plumbers to hop in and come to the rescue. Although hiring professionals is still the preferable means to cope with plumbing problems, minor ones can be fixed with simple DIY solutions. Nonetheless, it is very important to get the right plumbing repair early on. Here’s how doing so can save your home.
Preventing the damage from getting worse
We all know the age-old adage that goes, “Prevention is better than cure.” This is true not only for taking care of our bodies, but it also applies to taking care of our home plumbing. One common example of a frequently overlooked plumbing problem is the clogged drain. There are so many miracle cures for it online, like caustic drain cleaners, that can magically clear the drain from clog.
The downside to using these caustic drain cleaners, however, is that they eat away at the pipes with regular use. If drains get clogged almost regularly, you might have a deeper problem that cannot simply be remedied by caustic cleaners. You might have to make adjustments with your pipes which requires the immediate attention of a plumbing professional.
This is just one of the many examples of plumbing problems getting worse when not fixed immediately and properly. Professionals who know the ins and outs of plumbing will conduct a thorough assessment before jumping to short-term fixes like caustic cleaners. Fix the problem right away and avoid worse headaches later on.
Isolating the affected area
Early plumbing repair and problem detection also ensure that your existing issues remain isolated in those areas only. The last thing you want is for the problem to spread to other components of your plumbing system. Not only will that be more burdensome on your part emotionally, but financially too.
Even when money is not a problem, facing a major plumbing problem head-on can still be quite overwhelming. One common example involves issues with the water heater. Water heaters are exposed to turbulent temperature conditions which then lead to many issues, particularly with the buildup of mineral deposits. These mineral deposits can fester and affect the piping and everything else in between as well. Sediments can clog the pipes and even damage them.
Immediate repairs immensely lower the chances of the damage spreading to other areas, making it the most viable option if you don’t want to deal with the consequences later.
Protecting your interiors and furnishings
It might be strange to realize that even though plumbings are hidden away in the crevices of our walls, tucked away so as not to offend the eyes—still, they are the ones that show the most physical wear and tear when damaged. The said damage is not only evident in the plumbing components themselves, but it also shows in the walls and furnishings that we keep presentable at all times. Just goes to show that plumbing problems do have an impact on the look and feel of our homes.
People who have suffered from faulty toilets know the pain and regret of not getting it repaired early on. Damages like this are extremely damaging to your floor tiles – leaving more area for bacteria to latch on and fester. Moulds show on the ceilings and walls of homes that have unrepaired leaky pipes. The list of examples goes on, but the bottom line is, do not wait until the damage gets that bad.
Keeping your home’s structure intact
Your home’s interiors are not the only ones at risk of the dangers of unrepaired problems; exteriors can suffer just as much damage too. Pillars can begin to buckle under the weight of all the sagging due to water damage. Walls can warp and weaken, floors can soften, and even the lawn can stop looking healthy after severe plumbing neglect.
Unless you plan on leaving your property for good, you might be forced to look for another home since your old damage-abundant one isn’t suitable for living anymore.
Keeping everything sanitary
Another way that early plumbing repairs can save your house is that it can help keep it clean and sanitary. If water is always dripping on your ceiling from a leaking pipe, mould can accumulate over time. Mould, when undisturbed, is relatively harmless but can still be dangerous if there is not enough ventilation in the room.
Plumbing problems can lead to all sorts of sanitation problem in your home, and mould growth is just one among many. Sewer odour that reaches your home through your bathroom drain is especially a bad sign. Calling in the professionals might be your only option if the problem requires structural adjustments.
Ensuring safety for the family
Plumbing problems can pose dangers to your home’s interiors and exteriors, but perhaps the more sinister effects of the problem are towards your family’s own safety too. We have heard of people falling to their deaths due to crumbling stairs that have suffered water damage. Even water from the tap can be filled with a dangerous cocktail of mineral sediments.
Make sure you protect your family from any of these dangers by being on top of the repairs early on. Do not wait for the damage to spread and affect other areas of the house as it might spell the difference between safety and injury.
Saving more on smaller repairs
Last but not least, early repairs can also save you money in the long run. It may not save your home directly, but you can spend the money that you would have spent on the repairs to improve your home instead.
If you need more advice on plumbing repairs, feel free to contact the experts over at Electroplumb. We are here for you, 24/7.