It was the sound of the hail that woke you last night, but in the end it was the leaking water heater that kept you awake for the rest of the night. When the hail started at 3:00 am, both you and your wife bolted out of bed and went to check on the kids and the front of the house. Fortunate walk through the rest of the house, however, revealed a problem that was more immediate than the golf ball size hail outside. And while there was every chance that the hail would lead to an extensive list of repairs and replacements at some point, the water seeping across the basement floor required immediate attention.
You made a call to a local emergency plumber who talked you though making sure that the unit was shut off and disconnected from the water supply, and you were left with a major clean up process in the middle of the night. Although the loud noises caused by the hail was a disruption to your sleep, you ended up being thankful that you went to the basement when you did and prevented an even worse situation.
Drain Cleaning, Hot Water Heater Repairs and Other Plumbing Emergencies Require Professional Help
Some of the latest research indicates that roughly 10% of U.S. households have plumbing leaks that can waste up to 90 gallons of water a day. Knowing when to call in a professional plumber can help you avoid extensive and expensive damages. From replacement water heater installations to drain cleanings, there are times when property owners can be tempted to tackle their own plumbing problems. In hind site, however, many of these seemingly simple situations can lead to much bigger problems if they are not handled correctly. A drain cleaning that appears to have succeeded, for instance, can actually just have flushed the problem further down the line and will manifest itself later on with a more expensive problem. Likewise, the incorrect installation of a hot water heater can lead to extensive damage in a basement if an unseen leak is allowed to continue.
The decision to hire a licensed professional is always the best plan in a home or business. The fact that these trained experts are also covered by their company insurance can provide an extra layer of confidence when you are facing what may only seem like a small problem.
Consider some of these facts and figures about drain cleaning, tankless water heater installations, and other professional plumbing services:
- Leaks waste up to 180 gallons of water per week in the average household, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
- The average family in America uses more than 300 gallons of water every day at home.
- As much as 13.7% of water use is the result of leaks, according to Plumbing Manufacturers International.
- Indoor plumbing dates back to at least 2500 B.C. and remains an increasingly important factor in the health and well bing of people across the globe.
- Experts recommend draining and removing the sediment from a business or home water heater at least once a year.
Plumbing emergencies are costly, and sometimes have long term effects. One of he best ways to avoid them may be scheduling regular inspections with a licensed plumber. By addressing minor leaks and looking for signs of beginning problems with hot water heaters, many property owners are able to avoid more expensive problems at a later date. Even when you do not think that you will need repairs, there are still home owners who make an investment in new plumbing fixtures that are more efficient. From the latest offerings of tankless water heaters, for instance, there are many home owners who not only avoid the risk of leak, but also save money on water usage. Plumbing, like electricity, is one of the parts of a home that requires careful attention. The best way to get that attention is with the hiring of licensed professionals.
If it has been awhile since you had a plumbing inspection or your plumbing fixtures are aging, now might be a good time to proactively seek the advice of a plumber to find out what your best available options are.
