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6 Most Effective Tips to Prevent Plumbing Leaks

Ways to prevent a plumbing leak in Colombus, OH

Leaks are probably the most common threats to your plumbing system. Even a small leak that is less noticeable can quickly become a big issue. And when left unaddressed, you’ll have to deal with structural damages, increased water bills, and rising utility bills over time. If it gets to a catastrophic leak, you may experience sudden events such as a water heater rupture, pipe burst, and significant damage to walls and floors. Fortunately, you can easily avoid these leak problems in your home or business even before they happen. Here are some of the most effective ways to prevent plumbing leaks.

1. Reduce Excess Water Pressure

When the water in your system flows at high pressure, you may feel great, especially when doing laundry, filling a stockpot, or taking a shower. However, when the water pressure exceeds 60 psi, it becomes rough on your pipes and increases the chances of a plumbing leak. It also makes fixtures, valves, and joints work harder, negatively impacting your plumbing life.

Our experienced plumbers can help you determine the water pressure in your house using a pressure gauge. This device measures water pressure when attached to a faucet or hose outlet near the water meter. Our team will install a pressure regulator or a pressure-reducing valve if the pressure exceeds the ideal limit. These gadgets will ensure that water flows at a reasonable pressure of about 30 to 50 psi. Also, keep in mind that low-flow shower heads and faucets only adjust the amount of water flowing from a fixture, and they don’t reduce your water pressure.

2. Insulate Your Pipes

Temperatures can drop below zero during the cold season for weeks or months. These weather conditions make your pipes freeze. As a result, the water inside the pipes also freezes and expands after transforming into ice. This puts a lot of strain on pipe joints and can lead to leaks and bursting when water defrosts.

You can prevent pipes from freezing and leaking during winter by lagging them through insulation. This may seem like a simple process that you can complete yourself, but you should always involve a plumbing expert for a faster and better outcome. Our professionals are skilled and well equipped in pipe insulation. We put more emphasis on areas that remain unheated in your house, such as the garage, basement, and under the sink. Proper insulation will protect your pipes even when your thermostat stays below freezing point. You’ll also save on your energy costs because hot water passing through the pipes will remain hot.

3. Soften Hard Water

Do you have hard water in your residential or commercial premises? The hard water that passes through your system leaves a white precipitate buildup on your plumbing fixtures and other parts near pipes. This residue consists of calcium and magnesium, which corrodes pipes and restricts water flow over time. If you’ve noticed a white buildup on your faucets and shower heads, this is a possible sign of hard water. Also, if a water test report shows anything beyond 140 parts per million, you have hard water in your system.

The most effective method of dealing with water containing high mineral content is installing a water softener. These devices eliminate the extra minerals in the water, mostly using sodium. Other modern electric water softeners work using electromagnetic pulses, which dissolve the excess minerals without adding sodium to the water. Make sure you call our professionals to help install a water softener best suited to your needs.

4. Schedule Professional Plumbing Maintenance

Another effective method of preventing leaks in your plumbing system is scheduling professional inspection and maintenance. Leaks result from holes, cracks, or splits on your pipes, but without thorough inspection from well-trained eyes, it’s difficult to spot these issues early enough. Even if you inspect the plumbing system yourself, you’ll likely miss the key details and end up dealing with water damage.

By working with our well-trained professionals, they will find even the small leaks in hidden areas and repair them before they become a huge plumbing issue. We will check for signs of leaks in your plumbing system, such as the shower and tub tiles, and inspect behind walls. Our team will also check for water damage under your bathroom and kitchen sinks. We’ll also offer effective leak prevention ideas to ensure your pipes remain protected all year long.

5. Use Steel Hoses for Washing Machines

Washing machines are arguably one of the main appliances contributing to water leaks in most homes. And because this equipment uses a lot of water, even a small leak can damage your building significantly. If your washing machine leaks, the problem is likely due to a rubber hose failure. Although you may have considered these hoses due to their availability and low cost, they tend to degrade and develop thin patches over time. This creates weak spots that can easily rupture, leading to water leaks.

Let our professionals help you upgrade to more reliable steel or auto-shutoff hoses to avoid water leaks from your washing machine. Steel hoses have a rubber core surrounded by braided metal, offering extra stability. The auto-shutoff types can automatically stop the water supply in case of a burst hose.

6. Use Ball Valves

Many major plumbing fixtures in your house have stop valves dedicated to controlling water flow. Stop valves also allow you to repair a specific appliance or fixture, such as a washing machine or sink, without interfering with the rest of your home’s water supply. If you have older fixtures, most of them have standard stop valves that rely on a rubber seal to stop the water flow. However, these rubber washers degrade over time and can develop leaks. Still, the degradation makes it impossible to stop water flow completely. If a plumbing fixture develops an issue, you can’t shut off the water supply.

You can avoid these plumbing problems by replacing the standard stop valves with ball valves. These valves are highly reliable and can still control water flow even after staying idle for several years. Instead of rubber washers, ball valves are made of metal balls with a hole at the center. A quarter turn is enough to shut off water flow.

Prevent Plumbing Leaks With Apex Plumbing, Heating, and Air Pros

No matter how minor water leaks may seem, they can lead to disastrous results in your home or business. When the water gets to the hard-to-see areas, you’ll deal with other issues, including mold growth, wood rot, and more. Don’t hesitate to call our professionals at Apex Plumbing, Heating, and Air Pros to help you prevent plumbing leaks. Our team consists of highly skilled plumbers who can spot and repair a leak in no time. We’ll help you implement the above measures so you never have to deal with leaks in your plumbing system throughout the year. All our plumbers are well trained on all the latest trends in the industry to ensure they deliver the best solution that guarantees 5-star satisfaction. Even better, our company is BBB accredited, so you can trust us to deliver the best plumbing results. We provide drain repair, main water line replacement, repiping, trenchless pipe repair, backflow testing, water heater installation, bathroom remodeling, water heater repair, and water filtration services in Columbus, OH. Get in touch with Apex Plumbing, Heating, and Air Pros today to book a service.