5 Plumbing Tips You Can Use To Prevent Leaks During Lockdown
As the COVID-19 outbreak intensifies, it seems as if the entire world has come to a standstill. Businesses have closed their doors, offices have shut down, and public spaces have been sealed for an indefinite period of time.
Despite all this uncertainty, however, there are some things you can be certain will happen, no matter what’s going on in the world—in our case, that’s plumbing issues. In fact, numbers have actually gone up as families stay at home for longer, which puts added pressure on fixtures and the plumbing system.
Leaking pipes are an annoyance—and if left unattended, they can lead to larger plumbing issues.
That’s why we’ve compiled a list of five plumbing tips that you can use to prevent leaks during this time.
1. Know what is flushable—and what is not
Misinformation surrounding COVID-19 led to panic buying—and ultimately, a shortage of toilet paper in stores. Households with low supplies turned to alternatives such as wet wipes, napkins, and tissues. Unfortunately, most of these items don’t break down in water as toilet paper does.
As a result, they clog drainage pipes, potentially causing them to leak or burst over time. Burst pipes are a massive headache, requiring trained plumbers to repair them. Being careful about what you flush can prevent this nightmare scenario entirely.
2. Be mindful of what goes down the drain
Drainage pipes aren’t garbage disposal chutes—although we often treat them like they are. We often dispose of grease, oil, coffee grounds, and food debris down the drain without much thought. However, these items will probably clog your drain and make washing very difficult. Over time, the clog could lead to a costly pipe rupture.
3. Vacuum often
Vacuuming regularly will help remove dust particles and other small objects around the house. This will prevent them from going down the drain, where they can ultimately wreak havoc on your plumbing system.
4. Get plumber’s tape
Small leaks in pipes and joints can usually be handled by reaching out to a plumber. You’ll need high-quality plumber’s tape for the purpose. Also known as Teflon tape, this tool can help seal leaks in fixtures and joints very quickly. You’ll need to wrap it around the leaking component a few times to ensure it lasts.
5. Never ignore plumbing leaks
Plumbing leaks shouldn’t be ignored for multiple reasons. They cause unnecessary water wastage and can lead to high water bills. Plus, dripping water damages the walls and foundation, causing them to deteriorate and crack.
Lastly, and most importantly, leaks could be indicative of bigger plumbing issues around the house; damage that could cause irreparable harm.
While you might be able to carry out small plumbing repairs around the house, it’s best to leave routine inspections and major plumbing issues to the professionals. Pro Serve Plumbing offers superior plumbing services, including drain cleaning and slab leak detection services in Fort Worth, TX.
During this time of crisis, we’ve established additional safety and sanitization protocols, in line with CDC guidelines.
Call us now at 1-817-244-0614 for all your plumbing related needs.
