If you take a moment to think about your home plumbing system and the volume of water that it carries each day, it’s a staggering thought. We rely on our plumbing pipes to deliver clean water and remove wastewater, and if something goes wrong, it can have a dramatic effect. The release of water gradually in the form of smaller pinholes in pipes can be just as damaging as a burst pipe. In this article, we will look at three types of water damage that you cannot ignore and offer a simple fix for each one.
Many people throw a load of laundry in their washing machine and head out to work or to run some essential errands. This is a good use of time, but what if a washing machine hose bursts when you’re not at home? The last thing anyone wants to see when they return home is soap suds and water streaming out of the laundry room. If the water is released for long enough, you can have a localized flood to deal with. If the water is not shut-off, a great deal of water damage can occur in a short period of time.
There are a couple of ways to deal with this problem. Firstly, follow the manufacturer's recommendations carefully and take care to avoid overloading the machine. Secondly, you may want to consider upgrading your washing machine hoses if they are cracked or aging.
2. Toilet Failures
An overflowing toilet can cause significant water damage and other messes that need to be cleaned up to avoid a health hazard. If the toilet is on an upper floor, it can cause a great deal of damage to the ceilings of the floors below. If the overflow is ongoing for some time before it’s discovered, the cleanup bill could reach thousands of dollars!
The only way to mitigate the risks of an overflowing toilet is to schedule a regular plumbing inspection for your home. A professional plumber can inspect the toilet fill, flush valve, and water supply to make sure they are working as intended. If you notice that the flush handle is sticking, it’s easy enough to replace this yourself, and the parts are readily available at your local home supply store.
3. The Plumbing System Fails
This is the worst case scenario; remember that a network of plumbing pipes goes throughout your home. Plumbing pipes are located behind walls, in ceiling spaces, and under the floors, making them hard to access. A plumbing system failure typically occurs in the winter months when frozen pipes thaw and burst. Another common cause is a degradation in the wall of the pipe due to puncture, blockage, corrosion, or simply aging. When a pipe bursts, it can release a large volume of water quickly, and it’s important to turn off the shut-off valve to prevent water from coming into the home.
The only way to deal with a plumbing system failure is to contact your local certified plumber. They have the skills, experience, and tools to locate and fix the burst pipe quickly.
By Giovanni Longo President Flood Brothers PlumbingGiovanni Longo is a 3rd generation master plumber who has been practicing his craft and trade in the greater Los Angeles area for well over a decade and a half. A plumbing and hydraulics-engineering innovator, Giovanni's particular world-class expertise focuses on dealing with challenging sewer system designs as well as resolving complex commercial and residential draining issues. As a certified Flood Mitigation expert, he is also well versed in a wide variety of water damage and remediation solution.