When was the last time you had your home’s plumbing and sewer system maintained? If you can’t remember or it’s been more than a year or two, you should definitely consider scheduling an appointment to have it done. Most experts recommend having your entire plumbing system inspected and maintained by a licensed plumber annually. Regular plumbing maintenance will help to ensure everything works as it should. It can also potentially save you a large amount of money by avoiding expensive repairs or serious water damage. In this article, we’re going to show you some of the benefits regular plumbing maintenance can provide to help you understand why it’s so important.
Leak Detection and Prevention
One important part of inspecting and regular plumbing maintenance is making sure that there are no leaks in any of the water lines or drain lines. Having even a minor leak in your home can create major issues. Leaks inside the walls, ceilings, and floors can cause severe water damage and lead to you needing to have major renovations and repairs performed. In some cases, the water can cause the wooden studs that support the wall to start rotting or to warp or buckle. Any time there is a leak in the home, there is also a major risk of it leading to a mold infestation.
Leaks outside your home or underneath your foundation can potentially be even more serious. If your sprinkler system, main water line, or main sewer line has a major leak, the water may start pooling up next to the foundation potentially causing part of the home to shift or settle. This can easily threaten the structural integrity of the building as it can cause the foundation to start to crack or the walls to begin buckling. If the home does settle or shift, you may also end up with large cracks on the walls inside or doors or windows that no longer open and close properly.
If you ever notice any signs that may indicate your plumbing system is leaking, it is essential that you call for a plumber as soon as possible. When maintaining your plumbing system, a plumber will also look out for signs of a leak, such as low water pressure, water spots, and staining. They will also inspect all of the visible water lines and drain pipes for any signs of damage since this can increase the chances of a leak forming. In this way, you can hopefully avoid any leaks and also ensure the problem is taken care of properly if there is a leak present in your home.
Preventing Water Waste
Plumbing maintenance and inspections can also help to prevent water waste and keep your water bill from suddenly spiking. Toilets can often experience various issues that cause water to continuously leak from the tank into the bowl. While this may not seem like much of an issue, it definitely can be as a leaky toilet will usually waste around 200 gallons of water a day on average. When you add that up over an entire month, it can result in your water bill increasing by $70 to $100 or more.
A leaky faucet that drips isn’t quite as serious, but it can still waste over 3,000 gallons of water a year. If the faucet is constantly leaking with multiple drips coming out every second, you could find your water bill suddenly as much as $200 higher. If you do have any leaks or drips in your home, fixing them could easily lower your water bill by at least 10% and possibly much more.
Keeping Your Drains Clear and Preventing Odors
Drain cleaning is an essential part of maintaining a plumbing system and can make a huge difference in preventing clogs and slow drains. Having your drains professionally cleaned on a regular basis can also help to keep them smelling fresh and prevent odors. While preventative drain cleaning is important, you should also schedule a drain cleaning service any time you notice your drains are slow, partially clogged, or make a gurgling noise when the water is draining.
Preventing Sewer Backups and Other Sewer Issues
Having your sewer line professionally cleaned and inspected is also extremely important for preventing issues like sewage leaks and sewage backing up inside your home. Tree roots are one of the most common causes of sewer issues as they can often get inside the pipe and quickly begin taking over to where waste can’t drain properly. Roots can also easily crack or break the pipe and cause a major leak that can flood your yard with raw sewage.
A special camera can be used to inspect the entire sewer line inside and outside the home to ensure it isn’t clogged or damaged. If there is damage to the pipe, you may be able to have it repaired without needing to dig it up. If the pipe is old and in poor condition or has major damage, you’ll want to have it replaced immediately to prevent major problems and serious damage from occurring.
Rooting and hydrojetting can both be effective options for easily clearing clogs and cutting through tree roots. Both can also be effective preventative measures that will clean out the entire pipe to reduce the risk of future clogs. Another extremely common cause of clogged sewer lines is fat, oil, and grease sticking to the insides of the pipes, which can result in other solids getting stuck and eventually creating a massive clog. Having your sewer line cleaned will remove all of the fat so the line is fully clear and far less likely to clog up.
Improved Energy Efficiency and Longer Lifespan for Your Water Heater
Preventative maintenance isn’t just important for your water, drain, and sewer lines. Your water heater also needs to be fully inspected and maintained at least once a year to keep it in good condition and ensure it functions effectively. Maintenance can help reduce the chances of a tank water heater leaking due to rust and corrosion. Having your water heater maintained will also help to improve its energy efficiency so your gas or electricity bills don’t increase. Without regular preventative maintenance, the lifespan of your water heater could easily be cut in half due to increased wear and tear and various other issues. As with most other plumbing services, inspecting and maintaining a water heater isn’t something you can really do on your own so it’s always important to call a professional to take care of this important service.
Level 9 Heating, Cooling, and Plumbing is one of the best plumbing companies in Missouri serving Washington, St. Louis, and its surrounding area. Our team is ready to take care of all of your plumbing and sewer maintenance needs. We also specialize in the full range of plumbing, sewer, and drain repair and maintenance services and can ensure your water and wastewater systems function properly. Our company has been providing plumbing and HVAC services to the community for nearly 50 years, and we take pride in delivering outstanding workmanship, honest and fair pricing, and exceptional customer service. Contact us today for more information on the benefits regular plumbing maintenance can provide to your home or if you need to schedule a service call.
