As a new homeowner, undoubtedly you are proud and excited about your recent acquisition. No matter whether your home is 100 years old or finished yesterday it is still new to you. Assuredly, your home's condition is pristine. Just to be safe here are a few tips to keep in mind in the event you ever have anything go wrong with your perfect dwelling.
Odd Sounds in Your Water Pipes
Leaking pipes are more than just a source of unending aggravation. The United States loses nearly 20 percent of the water supply every year due to leaking pipes. Many homeowners have no idea their pipes leak. A leaking or burst pipe can be identified by the sound of clanking, whistling or banging. Pipes that are damaged or dented leave your whole drain system compromised.
Lack of Water Pressure
If your toilet suddenly has no water pressure, and your sink and tub send out a trickle, that signals a lack of water pressure. Little or no water pressure coupled with a whistling sound is a sure sign of pipe problems. When a portion of a pipe is too small for the water to pass through unimpeded, you may hear a whistling sound.
If you suddenly hear whistling sounds in your pipes, you should have it checked as soon as possible. Every time water flushes or drains down a compromised pipe it puts more pressure on it. You may avoid dealing with the mess and cost of a burst pipe if you call in an expert at the first sound of trouble.
Strange Odors are Not Good
A strong, unpleasant odor from something like sewage smells terrible and your nose might be trying to tell you something. If nasty odors emanate from your sinks, toilets, drains or other areas, especially on lower floors, you may have a leaking pipe or drain.
Sometimes, it is just a backup, but if that is the case you definitely want to have it checked by a plumber.
Routine Backups Are Not Normal
If you routinely experience backups in your toilets, drains, sinks or tubs, it is a sign that something in your pipes has narrowed. This can be buildup from grease and oil. Products not intended for drains might be caught in one of the drain elbows.
Tree roots commonly breach even the best of drain and sewage pipes, and the roots cause backups. Pipes continually leaking usually means an old pipe may have worn through and needs to be replaced.
Drywall Should Not be Damp
If you see signs of dried watermarks on your ceilings or walls, several problems could be the culprit. Check your roof as roof leaks often cause water stains in the ceilings and walls. If your roof is leaking, you are better off finding out now rather than later. Roofs do not self-repair. If you catch the problem early, the repair costs are minimal compared to what it will cost if you wait to have it repaired.
The more common source of wall or ceiling watermarks is leaking pipes. If your drywall looks like it has buckled and dried in certain areas that is a sure sign that a water pipe leaked or burst at some point. Locating the source of the leak may take the help of a professional.
Call a plumber or contractor for assistance when trying to find the leak. Often areas of the wall have to be cut away to reach the leaking pipe.
Floors Under Sinks Should Not be Soggy
Backyard parties with your neighbors and friends can be a lot of fun. Clean up after the party often leaves you tired and distracted. Your kitchen disposal unit can handle a lot of tough things to chew. Rib bones, corn husks and watermelon rinds down your disposal do not lead to good results. One or more of those items begins a battle that your disposal is doomed to lose.
If your disposal suddenly stops working, check the reset button under the sink on the unit itself. Try resetting it and hopefully that solves your problems. If it continues to malfunction, check to see if the circuit breaker tripped. While you are under the sink checking the reset button, feel the floor for any signs of water or dampness. If the floorboards feel soft to the touch, you probably have a leak in your disposal or sink. A damaged disposal can leak for weeks under your sink without anyone's knowledge.
New homeowners often do not know that certain sounds or smells are not normal. If you experience any of the problems indicated above, call a professional before the problem escalates into a disaster.
