A Basic Guide To Your Plumbing Service And System | Waxahachie, TX
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When you purchase a Waxahachie, TX, home, you’re taking responsibility for all the different parts of that home. Not only do you have to vacuum the floors, but you also have to have a basic understanding of things like your plumbing system. The good news is, a little effort goes a long way when it comes to taking care of your home. If you want to know more about your plumbing system and keeping up with routine plumbing service, here’s a quick guide.
Water Lines
Water lines are one of the most basic parts of your plumbing system; these lines are responsible for carrying water from the city water meter to your home. This water is then distributed to various fixtures, including showers, toilets, and faucets. While water supply lines in older homes were made of copper, most plumbing service professionals prefer using PEX as it’s more flexible and affordable.
Common water line problems include pinhole leaks, burst pipes, and leaks around fittings. The good news is, you don’t have to replace water lines very often as copper lines last 70 to 80 years and PEX lines last 40 to 50 years. If your home is very old, however, you may want to have a plumbing company inspect your water lines.
Drain Lines
Drain lines are the other half of the water lines in your home. Where water lines carry water into your home, drain lines are responsible for taking any wastewater out of your home and delivering it to your city’s sewer system. Drain lines are typically made of PVC, although some older homes may have cast iron drain lines.
Some of the problems you may run into with a drain line include clogs and sewage backups. Drain line clogs are generally a result of putting the wrong thing down the drain, whether you’re shoving too much food in your garbage disposal or flushing cotton swabs and makeup wipes down your toilet.
If you have a clogged drain line, you can try using an enzyme-based liquid drain cleaner to remove the clog before you call a plumbing service. You can also try using a plunger to unclog the drain. If these methods don’t work, make sure you call a professional to unclog your drain line.
Water Meter
You’ve probably noticed by now that you receive a bill each month depending on how much water you use. In order for the city to determine how much water each household is using and bill them appropriately, each house needs to be equipped with a water meter. Not only does this water meter measure how much water you use, but it also allows water to enter your main water supply line at the right pressure. While there are some water meter problems you may experience, water meters are typically dealt with by the city, so you don’t have to worry about hiring a plumbing service to take care of the problem.
Common Plumbing Problems
There are a lot of problems you may run into that require the help of a plumbing service company, so understanding what you’re up against is crucial. If you experience one of these common plumbing problems, make sure you call an expert to get it solved as soon as possible.
Leaks are one of the most common plumbing problems, and they can occur in both drain and water lines as well as fixtures. The problem with leaks is that they only get worse with time, so you need to fix a leak as soon as you notice it, no matter how minor it is. Plus, bad leaks from burst pipes and other plumbing emergencies can cause a lot of damage, so you should always prioritize fixing leaks.
Clogs are another common problem that requires a plumbing service expert. Not only do clogs make it annoying to use the drains in your home, but they can also lead to sewage backups which put you in danger.
Finally, you need to keep an eye out for any fixture problems in your home. Whether a faucet is dripping or a toilet is running when it shouldn’t be, you’ve got a problem.
Plumbing Emergencies
You also need to understand when you’re dealing with a plumbing emergency so you know when to call an emergency plumbing service. If you have a burst pipe or another leak that may cause serious water damage to your home, you should call an emergency plumber. If you have a sewage backup that’s causing sewage to spew into your home or leading to a strong sewage odor, that’s another good reason to call an emergency plumber. Basically, an emergency plumbing service is necessary whenever you might be risking your health or further damage to your home.
Preventing Plumbing Problems
Fortunately, there are a lot of steps you can take to prevent plumbing problems so you don’t have to spend money hiring plumbing service companies in the first place. For starters, you can be careful about what you put down your drains. You can also use a liquid drain cleaner every now and then to remove minor clogs before they get any worse. If you want to be particularly diligent about keeping your plumbing system in good shape, you can hire a drain cleaning company every few years to keep things completely clean.
Aside from taking care of your drains, you just need to keep an eye out for problems and call a plumber if you spot anything. The sooner you fix a plumbing problem, the less likely you are to have to deal with one in the future.
Call Bahama Plumbing Today
If you need a little help with the plumbing system in your Waxahachie, TX, home, Bahama Plumbing is here to lend a hand. Our licensed plumbers can get the job done no matter what your problem is. To schedule an appointment today, give Bahama Plumbing a call at (817) 908-8781.