When you have a plumbing emergency, you may not have time to think. Of course, you know you need plumbing repair, but what if your bathroom is filling with water in the meantime? This type of damage can spell disaster for your home, especially in warm areas like Orange County, CA, as you can quickly gather harmful mildew.
While you should always have a professional check out your plumbing, there are some things you can do on your own when an emergency occurs. Let’s look at some common plumbing issues and how to fix them.
Leaky Pipes
A leaky pipe can spell disaster for your home. It may start small, but water can seep into your floor if you don’t make a quick plumbing repair, causing damage. Luckily, there are steps you can take to seal leaky pipes.
First, turn off the water completely and measure the pipe’s circumference. Next, you’ll need to go to a hardware store to get supplies. You can use the pipe’s circumference to select a wrap or pipe clamp that will stop the leak.
If you don’t see those, pick up an epoxy compound. You can use it to seal the leak in your pipe. Simply apply the mixture directly to the pipe, just like caulk, to seal the leak. While these quick fixes will temporarily seal your leaky pipe, it’s still recommended you reach out to a professional for plumbing repair when you can.
Porcelain Cracks
Cracks in your toilet, shower, sink or any other fixture made of porcelain are inevitable. However, leaving these cracks unaddressed can cause major issues in your bathroom and throughout your home.
A tiny crack in your toilet may not seem like a big deal, but once the water starts leaking out, you could have a flood on your hands in no time. Luckily, you can seal up porcelain cracks on your own with plumber’s putty.
To seal your porcelain cracks, apply plumber’s putty to the inside of the leak. Try your best to squeeze it in snuggly. Then, apply caulk over the top to seal the putty.
This approach will seal the crack well, but remember, more damage is likely once your porcelain is cracking. It’s in your best interest to replace the broken item as soon as possible to prevent more damage.
Leaky Pipe Joints
Leaky pipe joints are similar to leaky pipes, but they can be a bit more challenging. However, you can still fix them on your own with the right materials. When you have a leaky joint, you can use a rubber pipe connector or a repair sleeve to fix it. Both should be available at your local hardware store.
You’ll need to measure your pipe and cut the rubber pipe connector to fit it snuggly. If you use a repair sleeve, you’ll want to make sure it’s wrapped tightly enough. Both of these options should seal the leak when they’re on tight, but they won’t last forever. You should reach out to a professional for plumbing repair as soon as you can.
Water Heater Issues
Maintaining your water heater is very important. It will naturally collect sediment inside the tank over time, and this can cause issues. You may not get water as quickly or as hot as you want, and it will force your water heater to work harder than it should.
To prevent this buildup, you should flush your tank at least once each year. To do so, start by turning off your water heater. Then, run hot water through one of your sinks for about ten minutes to drain the tank of hot water.
Next, you’ll need to turn off the cold water supply on top of the tank and affix a garden hose to the drain valve. Put the other end of the hose near a floor drain. Then, re-open the cold water supply and don’t close the drain valve or remove the hose. Finally, allow the water to drain until all of the sediment is gone, and the water runs clear.
Clogged Drains
No matter how proactive you are, you can not stop an emergency from happening. When storms come in, pipes burst, or you experience sewer backups, you can not go at it alone. These situations pose considerable health risks and need to be handled by an experienced professional.
When you have a relationship with a reputable plumbing company, they’ll be on stand-by during emergencies, ready to get your system back in working order. You won’t have to waste time vetting other companies or being hassled with questions and astronomical quotes. You’ll see your investment go to work for you.
Clogged Drains
Clogged drains are one of the most common plumbing issues. People use chemicals to unclog their drain most of the time, as compounds are readily available in stores.
However, these chemicals can eat away at your pipes and cause unnecessary wear and tear. A better solution is to prevent clogs by placing a catcher above your drain to collect hair and other materials.
You can also unclog your pipes naturally by pouring boiling or very hot water down your drain. This approach should knock some of the materials free. For persistent clogs, reach out to a professional plumber.
Trusted Plumbing Services from Moffett Plumbing & Air
If you’re noticing issues with your plumbing, don’t bother searching the web for “plumbers near me.” Reach out to the trusted team at Moffett Plumbing & Air. We proudly serve Orange County, CA, and specialize in plumbing repair and water heater repair. Contact us today!