What are the simple tips to save big bucks in plumbing?

Answer 1

Aside from making some simple, routine efforts to keep sink and bath/shower drains running smoothly, there are a number of other tasks which the homeowner can handle to help avoid service calls unless a real emergency arises. A leak you cannot see may well be a financial emergency if it is doing hidden damage, so it pays to catch it early.

Faucets and toilets that leak, even small drips, can waste many hundreds of gallons of water a year. A couple of drops of food coloring added to a toilet tank will show some color in the bowl by morning if the toilet has a small leak.

Obviously, if you can hear a leak, if the toilet runs between flushes or occasionally performs a "phantom flush" when no one has been using it, these are signs that a minor leak will end up wasting gallons of water that you got no benefit from. Since your sewage bill is often based on the amount of water used, you are also paying extra to have this clean, unused water treated as well and the bills can add up quickly.

Replacing worn toilet innards and small parts like rings and washers in kitchen and bathroom sinks can reduce your water bill and prevent dripping water from creating mineral buildup and stains on fixtures and Plumbing hardware.

Don't forget to check outdoor sprinklers, hoses and hose bibs as leaks in these are also big water wasters and can even damage the lawn and landscaping by creating soggy spots that encourage plant diseases and pests.

Hidden Leaks

If you suspect a leak, but cannot locate the source, turn off all water using appliances while you will be gone for the day and check the reading on your water meter before leaving. Check again when you get home before turning anything on. If the meter has moved, you know that either you have a leak somewhere or, in rare circumstances, another property or household may be drawing on your water supply.

Sometimes older fixtures, especially showers, can have invisible leaks behind or beneath them that allow water to seep into walls or subflooring. Periodically examine walls near plumbing pipes for any sign of moisture such as mold, check ceilings with plumbing above and check under the house for any signs of wet sub-flooring or joists.

These slow leaks can cause substantial damage before they are noticed, but periodic inspections can save a great deal of unwanted surprises, grief and unexpected, but costly, repairs. If your water meter check indicates missing water when there are no other known leaks, this can alert you to a hidden pipe leak before it has a chance to do serious damage.

Out of sight, out of mind is a dangerous plumbing strategy, so it's well worth it to call in a plumbing pro to help you locate any mystery leaks and make sure they are stopped once and for all. The parts needed are often very inexpensive so it's well worth the effort to learn to make simple repairs yourself.

Avoiding Broken Pipes

Another excellent hint that can prevent costly service calls is to provide extra protection to water pipes during cold snaps, especially if you will be away from home during a cold snap. Turning off the main water supply and emptying pipes by opening faucets will drain enough water from the pipes that even freezing temps will not produce enough pressure in your pipes to cause them to burst.

Freezing water expands and, as long as this water has an escape route through an open tap or two, any small amount of water left in horizontal pipes will be insufficient to burst the pipes even if it freezes. It is the pressure of expanding ice and blocked water, not the cold, which does the damage.

Contact Us:

Escondido Plumber and Plumbing Services

115 West Woodward Avenue

Escondido, CA 92025

858-384-1307