As long as water is being delivered to their taps, showers, and toilets, most homeowners in Australia give little thought to how exactly it gets there. Plumbing is something that we just assume works and don’t really pay much attention to – until things go wrong.
Then, they quickly become all we can think about. Plumbing disasters are inconvenient at best, and downright destructive at worst. They need to be dealt with quickly, so we have to try and make a quick judgement about which local plumbers are both competent enough to fix the problem and unlikely to take advantage of us while we’re in a pinch. Overall, it’s a lot easier to avoid these situations altogether.
Fortunately, there are a few simple things that you could do right now to make plumbing disasters far less likely.
Inspect your pipes for leaks
Pipes do not just suddenly burst with no prior warning. What typically happens is a tiny leak will show up anywhere from days to months in advance. The constant pressure of the water inside the pipes will keep making it bigger over time. The leak might be so small that it’s not even noticeable to anyone who is not deliberately looking for it, so make sure you carve out some time to do just that once a month or so.
Inspecting your fixtures shouldn’t take you long, but spotting and treating problems early can save you a lot of money. Remember to check for moisture and other signs of water escaping, such as wall stains, mould, and peeling paint near your pipes in addition to visible leaks.
Get a water filter system
Filtering your water is not just about making it safe to drink. The water being delivered to your home contains many minerals, such as calcium and magnesium, deposits of which are left behind along the inside of your pipes as the water passes through them. If too much is deposited in one area, this can damage your pipes or cause problems with appliances like your shower or washing machine.
The best filter system really depends on your home and the hardness of the water in your area, so its important to speak to Sydney water filtration experts or experts near you. They will help you find the best solution for your home.
Locate your shut-off valve
If you inspect your pipes regularly and have a filter system in place, the prospect of a plumbing crisis becomes much less likely, but not impossible. If something does go wrong, the last thing you need is water gushing out and damaging things in your house. Doing unregulated plumbing is not sensible in a crisis, so you need to be able to stop the water while you wait for professional help to arrive. Learn where the shut-off valve is in your home. This could potentially save you from a lot of repair work in the future.
Conclusion
While there are more things you could do, just implementing these three simple steps already goes a long way towards preventing plumbing emergencies and making them a lot less damaging if they do happen. You don’t need to spend much time or money on them, but they may save you plenty of both.
