We're always glad to share practical plumbing tips with our customers to help them enjoy a problem-free home. As seasoned Pittsburgh plumbers, we have accumulated quite a trove of useful information about the plumbing industry.
Our No. 1 tip is simple: Know where your water main is located and how to turn it off. In many plumbing emergencies, cutting off the water supply helps prevent additional damage and saves you money in repairs.
Below are more helpful hints to avoid the five most common plumbing problems: clogged drains, leaky plumbing fixtures, water heater problems, low water pressure and blocked garbage disposals.
Clogged Drains and Toilets
Drain pipes are designed to carry water soluble waste material to the sewers or to your septic tank. If you put any other object down your drain or toilet, this will likely result in clogs. Keep a plunger handy for easy clogs. For stubborn ones, call us at 412-273-1000 or schedule a repair right away.
Leaky Plumbing Fixtures
Change the rubber or plastic seals and washers in your faucets once you start to notice drips. Make it a habit to check around all your pipes for moisture or damp surrounding areas. If you catch plumbing leaks when they're small, they will be much easier to repair.
Water Heater Problems
Flushing your water tank once a year gets rid of any sediment build-up, which can lead to corrosion. It also helps to prevent problems such as smelly water or not enough hot water.
Low Water Pressure
Clogs and pipe corrosion can affect the water pressure in your house negatively. The problems could also be coming from your main water source. Again, be careful about what you allow down the drains and toilets in your house. You will need a professional plumber to re-lay pipes in your house to deal with pipe corrosion. Call your local water agency to find out if they're experiencing any problems on their end. If so, your water pressure problems could be solved when they get to the bottom of their own difficulties.
Blocked Garbage Disposal
Always turn on your garbage disposal before putting anything in it and let hot water run for five seconds more after you turn it off. This will help flush out any remaining bits of waste. Never throw grease, solid foods, banana peels or raw vegetables down your garbage disposal. Hard-to-grind items such as bones and egg shells should also not be thrown in your garbage disposal.
Call us for assistance with a wide range of plumbing problems, including water leak detection, residential and commercial plumbing, water heater repair and installation and emergency plumbing. Our seasoned and knowledgeable licensed plumbers are ready to help you in any way.