We do most of our important routines at home – sleeping, eating, taking a bath, doing chores, bonding with family, and more. Unless you spend your time far away from home, then ensuring its upkeep might not be a big concern for you. But if you and your family do spend a lot of time at home, then you have to learn the importance of plumbing and heating early on.
Keeping a home warm, inviting, and cosy takes more than just having the right interior design or posh exterior paints. A lot of what makes a home also has something to do with your plumbing and heating systems. Furthermore, these aspects of your home can have direct effects on your health as a resident.
Unfortunately, plumbing and heating are also the two things that are mostly overlooked. Homeowners do not typically give a lot of importance to these areas thinking that doing so hold little to no merit. Contrary to this, ignoring your problems in plumbing and heating can actually lead to serious health hazards to you and your family. Here, we go through those possibilities one by one.
Plumbing Leaks: Mould and Fungi Feast
Leaking pipes are possibly the most common, yet very difficult to detect problems at home. They are destructive such that by the time they are detected, moulds and fungi are already growing on the surrounding areas of the leaks. In fact, most owners are able to find the leak because of the mould and fungi that they discovered first.
If you are thinking that you can live with a little bit of fungi and mould, here is a quick summary of all the health complications that they can cause:
- Nasal and sinus issues
- Throat and eye irritation
- Coughing or wheezing
- Fatigue
The list does not end here for there are far more serious problems that they can bring. But the list can give us a good picture of its potential health hazards. The best way to remedy this is to fix the leak before mould and fungi feasts on the moisture it causes. Check for blistered wallpaper or cracked linoleum. At some point, you might even have to get a professional plumber to take a look.
Old Plumbing: Asbestos Killers
Asbestos was a very common construction material in the 1920s to 70s. This dangerous material was famously used as insulation for pipes and basement boilers. It wasn’t until late 70s that asbestos was found to have grave effects, including permanent lung damage and mesothelioma, a kind of cancer.
Another dangerous effect of leaks due to old plumbing is that these leaks can disturb the asbestos fibres and spread them in the surrounding areas. Even worse, homeowners who are oblivious to the dangers of asbestos often conduct the repairs themselves further exposing them to the asbestos killer.
Lead Pipes: Neurological Nightmare
Speaking of old houses and pipe systems, another common material that was used in the 70s was lead. Lead pipes were famous because they are cheap and durable, but the dangerous effects are well documented and should not be taken lightly.
Exposure to lead through your plumbing systems can damage your hair, skin, and nails. To add salt to the injury, lead can cause neurological issues such as insomnia, food aversion, and irritability. The best way to know if lead is present in your pipes is to have an inspection by a professional plumber.
Sewage Backups: Germ Nest
Sewer line, or sewerage, is the pipe that transports all your wastewater from inside your home to a sewer main. Having safe and secure sewer lines spells the difference between having a healthy home and an unhygienic one. When the sewer line is not properly attached or professionally done, then you can face unpleasant problems like smelly bathrooms or sewer leaks.
Sewerage that backs up into your home can bring a handful of bacteria like salmonella, hepatitis, heliobacter pylori, etc. Do not put your family’s health at risk and call the best emergency plumbers in your area as soon as you notice sewage backups inside your home.
Hard Water: Recipe for Skin Diseases
Faucets that are hardened with white, soapy, and scaley residue are often the tell-tale signs of “hard” water. This refers to water that has high concentrations of minerals like calcium and magnesium. Although it is relatively unproblematic for chores and other outdoor tasks, hard water can have irritating effects on the skin.
Soaps and shampoo often clash with the minerals that are in hard water, leading to dry and itchy skin, clogged pores, and acne problems. This can cause other skin problems if not remedied. You can contact your local plumber to ask for advice on installing a water softener to curb this problem.
Rusty Water Heaters: Bacterial Breeding Ground
Water heaters might not be necessary in some parts of Australia. But in areas that do experience harsh winter seasons, they are integral in keeping your baths warm and rejuvenating. However, even the best water heaters are susceptible to internal rusting. Rusty water heaters not only take up more electricity, but they are also dangerous to your health.
Bacteria and all sorts of germs can quickly build up in rusting water heaters. These micro-organisms can infiltrate the rest of your plumbing systems and eventually make it to your drinking water. If you want to stop this threat before it starts affecting your health, contact plumbing experts right away.
Contact Your Local Plumbing and Heating Experts Today
Work with trusted professional plumbers in your area as soon as you see indications of the plumbing and heating problems we have mentioned here. From revamping your old plumbing systems to installing safe and durable hot water systems, you can rely on plumbers at Electroplumb to provide quality services 24/7.
We will answer your queries the best we can. We also conduct a home inspection to get to the root of the problem in no time. Do not expose your family to health problems and contact a professional today. If you wish to learn more about our services, you may call us at 0452 477 612 or email chris@electroplumb.com.au.