Plumbing Issues Most Certainly Can Damage The Home

The plumbing system in a home includes several feet of piping that must handle hundreds of gallons of water per day. Some of the most common problems within a home's plumbing system include clogged drains, leaky pipes, and foul odors. While most home improvement stores will carry everyday home improvement items to fix small issues, it is best to consult with a plumber if these problems continue. Persistent toilet clogging issues, or a slow drain may be an indicator of a clog deeper within the home's plumbing system. For instance, a plunger can move excess waste that causes clogging through the pipes. However, if it does not dissolve, it can travel deeper into the home's plumbing system and create pressure that may eventually cause the pipes to burst. However, some of these issues are caused by faulty pipes. Many older homes are fitted with piping materials such as iron or fiberglass, which will break down over time, and need to be replaced. Faulty pipes can have an effect on the home's entire plumbing system with slow drains and water leaks. Although lead pipes do not breakdown and cause slow drains, they can make the drinking water poisonous because the water will pick up traces of lead when it runs through the pipes.

Extreme weather conditions can also cause problems in a home's plumbing system, especially during the winter months. Since most pipes are made of iron, copper, or other metal material, they have a tendency to freeze under extremely cold temperatures. When the pipes are allowed to freeze, they will expand and contract from the differences in water temperature, and most plumbing services have plumbers available 24 hours a day in the event of an emergency. Eventually, this may cause the pipes to crack and begin to leak. If this happens, it is not a easy fix for the homeowner, and only a plumber's specialized skill and tools can make repairs to this type of leak. In fact, this can be a very costly repair because the plumber may have to dig beneath the home to get access to pipes, and make any repairs.

A home's plumbing system should never be ignored. Pay close attention to any issues including slow drains, foul odors, or extensive clogging. If any of these problems are allowed to persist beyond the homeowner's skill, and plumber should be called to diagnose the problem. Ignoring these problems will cause burst pipes, which will flood the home, and cause expensive damage.