Any minor issue in your laundry room can quickly develop into a major issue that can cost a considerable amount of time and money to fix. In many cases, these types of problems can be avoided with some simple maintenance and a regular cleaning schedule. This may seem like a real hassle, but if you can keep your laundry room in a better overall shape it will pay off, and you could avoid some more expensive plumbing repairs in the months to come. Let’s take a look at some ways that you can avoid water leaks and drainage clogs in your laundry room.
Check Integrity of Your Hoses
One of the most common causes of water leaks in laundry rooms are the hoses used to hookup appliances to the water supply and drains. If these hoses become clogged or they are cracked, they can cause a significant problem. Many laundry rooms have rubber hoses installed on the appliances, but it’s a great idea to swap these out for metal hoses instead. A metal hose is more durable and less prone to clogs and blockages. Some older buildings may have rubber hose hookups that are spècifically designed to prevent clogging in attached washing machines. These types of rubber hoses are less prone to becoming cracked and damaged due to regular use.
It’s important to ensure that every hose installed in your laundry room is in great shape and that it won’t fail any time soon. The hoses must be connected up to the appliances and drainage areas tightly, and the seals need to be intact. If there are loose or broken seals, this can lead to water leaks and even flooding. If you have sinks and toilets in your laundry, they need to be checked in the same manner to ensure that the chances of a water leak are minimized as much as possible.
Water damage can occur quickly or over an extended period of time, and even a minor water leak can cause a significant amount of damage. Aside from the obvious disruption to your home, water damage is expensive to repair, and it can affect many areas in your home. Even your foundations could be at risk if flooding occurs or there has been a smaller water leak over a significant period of time.
Install a Flood Sensor
A flood sensor is simple to install, and it’s a great way to protect the plumbing system in your laundry room. Finding minor water leaks is crucial as we mentioned earlier, but a sudden flooding event can cause an enormous amount of water damage in a very short period of time. An overflowing sink, a clogged drain or a blocked toilet could all lead to a sudden flooding event that’s hard to anticipate. If you install a flood sensor, you will get a warning that there is a problem, and this will give you an opportunity to fix the problem before it spirals out of your control. A flood sensor is inexpensive, especially when you compare the potential cost of a flooding event in your laundry room.
Regular Weekly Cleaning
It’s important to clean out the clog catches and drains in your laundry room every week. This will prevent an overflow and the formation of clogs that can lead to flooding. If you have a larger family and you use your washer more often, it may be necessary to clean the clog catches and drains twice per week instead. When a washing machine is run more frequently, the prevention of clogs will be a key factor in the health of your laundry room plumbing. During your weekly cleaning, it’s advisable to check the hair catches installed in each sink, shower stall, bathtub and the catches in your washing machine. This simple task alone could save you hours of time and money spent on dealing with plumbing problems.
Updating Appliances
The home appliance industry is a fast moving field, and there are consistent improvements in a number of areas. Aside from convenience, many advances have been made in recent years in terms of water and energy efficiency. Many modern water using appliances are engineered to prevent the formation of clogs too. So, consider updating your appliances because you could save water and energy and experience fewer plumbing problems in your laundry room.
Fixing Laundry Room Water Leaks
A water leak can develop in many areas, but if the plumbing fixture hasn’t been turned on in a while leaks can occur in the shutoffs, and you may not be able to turn the water on at all. These types of problems are quite common when people move into an older home that hasn’t been occupied for a while. Typically a new appliance is delivered and installed, and then the water leak is discovered. Of course, the appliance installers are not certified plumbers, and they will not fix the water leak for you.
Sometimes, these minor plumbing issues can be fixed by anyone with a little DIY knowledge and some basic tools. There is a small packing nut located directly above where the hose connection is made to the valves. This nut can be gently tightened with a wrench, and this may stop the leak. When you have a good hose connection, you won’t need to worry about your new appliance and your water bill will not be higher than you’re expecting it to be.
Ongoing Plumbing Maintenance and Repairs
There are many minor plumbing repairs that you can attempt yourself, such as: tightening a nut, changing a washer and cleaning out a drain. But, if you encounter a major plumbing problem that’s beyond your skill level, it’s time to call out a professional plumber. A local certified plumber will have plenty of experience and access to professional grade specialized tools that most of us simply don’t need. If you want to prevent major plumbing problems, it makes sense to hire a
professional plumber to give your plumbing system a regular checkup and carry out any essential maintenance.
By Giovanni Longo President Flood Brothers Plumbing
Giovanni 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.
