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If you’ve ever watched in astonishment as water geisered out of your toilet, or stood by helplessly as water slowly filled your basement recreation room, you’ll understand why having a reliable plumber just a phone call away is essential.
Living in Fort Lauderdale, FL and environs, you’ll be familiar with extreme weather events that can put a strain on plumbing and other infrastructure. Whether you’ve had an out-of-the-blue plumbing disaster, are cleaning up after a devastating storm, or just want to stay on top of plumbing maintenance in order to diminish the odds of a plumbing mishap occurring, consider keeping an expert service like bluefrog Plumbing + Drain on speed dial. Their team of highly trained technicians and plumbers can handle any emergency – from burst pipes to clogged drains, and everything in between. They can also work with you to upgrade plumbing hardware and keep pipes and drains clear with regular maintenance. There are so many reasons to hire a professional rather than tackle tricky plumbing issues in a DIY manner. Keep reading to learn more about common domestic plumbing issues and best practices for making them go away.
The Plumbing Basics of Your Home & What Can Go Wrong
Plumbing infrastructure snakes throughout, and often around and under, your home. It consists of pipes, valves, hardware, fixtures and any mediating devices that may have been installed to enhance performance or protect vulnerable systems. It is arguably one of the most important networks in a home, supplying safe water to drink and bathe in, and providing important systems of hygiene for waste and waste water. Often, it also intersects with HVAC, and other important domestic infrastructure. Here are some of the most ubiquitous components and what can go wrong with each one:
Water supply circulates through the home through a series of pipes and valves. In cities like Fort Lauderdale, it connects with a municipal water main line that supplies the neighbourhood. In more rural areas it may connect to a well or cistern.
Water supply pipes constitute a mechanical system that can go wrong in many ways. Pipes can burst, be punctured, degrade, or disrupted by construction or disturbances in the ground. Valves can fail, corrode or outlive their functionality. Both need to be inspected regularly and sometimes, replaced. Some common signs that pipes or valves are compromised are:
- water where it shouldn’t be
- leaks or backed-up water
- low water pressure or flow
- unexpectedly high utility bills
- odd sounds or smells emanating from plumbing infrastructure
Taps and Faucets connect water supply piping to a home’s delivery system. Typically attached to sinks, bathtubs and showers in bathrooms, kitchens and utility rooms, taps and faucets allow for water distribution as needed.
These mechanical fixtures can also jam, break or wear out over time, which may lead to leaks, drips or more serious flooding issues.
Drains are tasked with removing waste water from rooms in the home. It is important that they are kept clear of debris and functioning freely. Problems can arise from clogs, obstructions or backups down the line. In a worst case scenario this can lead to floods, leaks and expensive water damage. For the important drains near the foundation of the home, the potential for damage is even greater.
Toilets are the important part of plumbing infrastructure that remove human waste from living areas. They keep a low profile but anyone who’s lived with a broken or clogged toilet knows that a household can’t really function smoothly for more than a few hours without a well running toilet. That said, there are lots of smaller issues that can impact performance and that may also indicate that a larger problem is looming.
Consult with a qualified plumber if your toilet runs after flushing, fails to flush, makes strange noises or backs up. The installation of a new toilet (or any major bathroom fittings) also requires the expertise of a plumbing professional.
Devices and appliances that are hooked up to the water supply lines and drainage systems become micro plumbing units with their own supply and drain valves. Problems with a washing machine or back flow valve, for example, can have devastating knock on effects to overall plumbing infrastructure. They require regular inspection, maintenance and cleaning to keep performing optimally over the years.
Septic systems always require the attention of a qualified plumber if something goes wrong. They also require upkeep and the services of septic qualified technicians from time to time. The consequences of a failed septic system can be devastatingly expensive.
DIY vs Professional
It may be tempting to pick up a wrench or plumber‘s snake from the local hardware store, watch a few how-to videos and try to fix your plumbing problem yourself. Don’t. Just don’t. Here’s why you should always get a professional plumber to take care of plumbing problems:
- they have the expertise and the specialized tools to do the job right the first time
- they are able to spot potential problems that may be looming
- they are backed by guarantees and warranties that can be valuable to homeowners
- insurance and municipal inspections may be required in some cases and these may require a certified plumber
- there are safety hazards associated with plumbing infrastructure that an amateur may not understand
- it can save you money in the long run
- professional plumbers have access to collective knowledge and sector support for unusual scenarios
Not convinced? Then maybe you haven’t heard any of the horror stories about DIY plumbing fixes gone wrong. In the worst of these, the DIY-er makes things worse, endangers their family and ends up booking an expensive emergency plumbing call to fix the fix. Many dollars and much frustration later, they may have learned their lesson. Take heed!
If you live in the greater Fort Lauderdale, FL area and need a plumber, call the professional team at bluefrog Plumbing + Drain of Fort Lauderdale. Whether it’s an emergency or a routine maintenance call, their expert team of skilled plumbers will bring a professional attitude, experience and specialized knowledge to bear on any plumbing issue, large or small. On call 24/7, they can get your water flowing freely and safely again, confined to the appropriate channels, and providing for your family’s daily needs.
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