If you ignore the warning signs in your plumbing or you don’t listen to your plumber’s advice, you could really have a nightmare on your hands. You might wake up in the middle of the night to find water pouring out of your ceiling. Maybe you’ll come home after being away for the weekend and return to a home that’s full of water everywhere. That doesn’t have to be the case. Here are a few ways you can prevent these kinds of plumbing nightmares from happening.
Probably the best way to start is to make sure you understand what’s involved with your plumbing. That doesn’t mean you have to become a plumber—all you have to do is pay attention to a few things. Most people already understand how dangerous electricity can be in a home. It can cause a fire or arcing and destroy personal belongings. Water can do just as much damage as fire.
It’s extremely important that you pay attention to the maintenance that you need to do on your plumbing. If you’re leaving your home to go on vacation for several days, you should probably shut a few things off. If you simply turn off the water/water heater, you won’t come back to a flooded house if something went wrong.
You should also hire a competent person who’s able to explain the plumbing system to you. You should understand what needs to be done, why it needs to be done, and what happens if you don’t get it done. If the plumber would just tell you what needs to be done without really helping you understand the situation, you wouldn’t be equipped to make an informed, educated decision. The company you hire should have a good reputation and they should stand behind their work. If something is installed improperly, it could lead to a plumbing nightmare. Nobody wants to have something fixed twice or three times because the job wasn’t done right the first time.
I’m going to share an experience with you that explains one of the most important things you can do in your home to prevent a nightmare from happening. This past week I went to one of our client’s homes because the washing machine hose had burst. A burst hose can pour a large amount of water in a home very quickly. That’s why we highly recommend that the washing machine hose is stainless steel braided. Burst washing machine hoses is the number one reason for insurance claims when it comes to water damage.
Even though the hose might have been fine for years, it only takes one mishap to cause a huge plumbing nightmare. As a washing machine is running, it tends to vibrate. That vibration can wear a spot on the washing machine hose, making it weak over time. If the rubber piece isn’t stainless steel reinforced, we’ll see ‘bubbles’ forming on the outside of the hose. Those bubbles are weak spots that may burst at any time. If I had to pick one thing for you to listen to it would be this: Use stainless steel braided reinforced lines. Otherwise, cut off the water when the washing machine is not in use.
Hopefully you’ll follow all of these tips so you won’t have to experience a plumbing nightmare in your home. If you have any questions, contact us online or give us a call at (540) 685-0366.
