Water is powerful. Every home has access to water, but we rarely think about how we’ve conquered the world’s greatest element. Our oceans are made of water, we’re made of it, and we need it to live. As much as we love it and need it, it can also become a problem and a nuisance in our homes. It’s an element of nature, and it can be surprisingly unpredictable. Water has a mind of its own and it manifests its power in leaks, noisy pipes and all kinds of similar problems. We’ll look at the most common problems that a household can have. Click here to read more.
How to know if you have a leak in your house?
The most common places where you can see leaks are bathrooms and kitchens. Since there are toilets, drains and dripping taps there, these are first on the list. These can be seen and are easy to spot. However, there are also hidden leaks that can only be seen on your bill. If you are on a meter, then they are easy to spot too. If the water bill comes a lot higher than the previous month, and you spent a relatively similar amount of water, that means there is a leak that you don’t know about.
Also, another way to find leaks is by looking on the consequences that water brings. These include a lot of different things, but there are a few that you just can’t miss. If there are any damp patches on the walls, carpets and floors, there is a high chance that a pipe is leaking in the installation. Mould is an indicator of leaks as well. It only shows up in damp areas, and that means you have a leak to take care of. Rust in some places where it shouldn’t be signals the alarm, as well as constant noise from inside the walls.
What should you do if you find a leak?
It’s simple, you need to call a plumber or a plumbing service. They’ll come and fix the problem. But, let’s say that the worst happens, and a big pipe bursts and is leaking a lot. That’s a big problem, and there isn’t enough time for the plumber to stop it before it floods important appliances. Then, you need to take matters in your own hands and stop all water coming to your house. That can be done by turning off the stop tap.
Usually, you can find it under your kitchen sink, but that depends on where the water enters your home. That’s why it’s a good idea to know where the stop tap is located before any kind of emergency happens. Sometimes, homes have multiple stop taps and this complicates the situation a little bit. However, there is a solution to this as well. You just need to find all the stop taps and label them so they can be easily found in a time of emergency. For help in finding them, you can call the service which installed them. After you’ve stopped the water, then it’s time to call a service like Grand Canyon Plumbing Peoria, AZ, and they’ll come and take care of the rest.
How to reduce water waste?
Most of us don’t think a lot about the water we’re wasting. People often let the water on while they brush their teeth, peel vegetables and similar activities. Sometimes, they turn on the water in the shower for a few minutes before they even get in. But, that all adds up and gets taken away from your hard earned money.
A few calculations have been made, and the numbers don’t lie. Water waste in the average household adds up to 25 percent of the water and gas bills. Not to mention the electricity that’s needed to heat up the water. That’s a lot of money just going down the drain. Instead of just wasting it, you can save water and save money.
What to do in the winter months?
Water freezes in low temperatures. This can cause many problems that can be avoided if they’re thought about on time. The most common issues are frozen taps and pipes, but they’re relatively easy to handle. Before winter starts, take some time and fix all the leaking taps you have. This way, you’ll save water and prevent them from freezing when temperatures are low.
Also, at the same time, get all outside pipes insulated. Do that to all pipes in the backyard and the garage that are visible. This will prevent them from freezing and bursting. Just in case of an emergency, keep a few bottles of water in your home that you can use if you run out of water or turn it off. And finally, if you’re going away on vacation during that time, you can drain all the water and turn it off. This way, there is absolutely no chance of something going wrong while you’re away.
A few final words
To sum up, water can cause a lot of problems. But, all of them can be avoided if you handle them beforehand. It’s essential that you know where the stop tap in your home is, so you know how to turn off the water. As well as that, being more sensible about water use will reduce your water bills, and insulation will prevent pipes from freezing in the winter months.
