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Plumbing problems come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Some barely cause inconvenience to your life, such as low water pressure, but there are also plumbing problems that can cost you hundreds, if not thousands of dollars like house floods and burst pipes.
One thing that you should know as a homeowner is never letting a small plumbing issue become a big one. It may just be a leak or two here and there, but over time, it can be the source of black mold, which destroys your entire house’s structural integrity.
House prices in Nottingham are increasing every year. In September 2020, it now stands at an average of £ 214,435, a 2.60% increase from the last three months. With Nottingham’s properties becoming more and more expensive, you should view your property more as an investment. Unfortunately, just having one house flood can slash your house value by up to half of its current value.
Even if you don’t plan to sell your house any time soon, it still goes without saying that you should take care of your home. In this article, we have listed down the four most common plumbing problems that residents in Nottingham face, how to avoid them, and, most importantly, how to fix them.
No Hot Water
Who likes cold showers? The answer: No one. When you’re rushing off to work, you don’t exactly want to be stuck having to take a cold shower. It’s just not as relaxing and invigorating as a hot bath. And when your day has ended, you can’t precisely soak in a cold tub. It would just be a disappointing way of life.
When you don’t have hot water, your central heating system is probably the problem. The two common causes of no hot water include are:
- Broken boiler
- Small water tank
How to Avoid:
Broken Boiler
Your boiler is what powers your central heating system. Regardless of the type of boiler you have, it’s crucial that you hire a professional plumber in Nottingham to do a full maintenance check once a year. There are many issues that could go wrong, such as limescale buildup, broken pilot light, dysfunctional thermostat, leaky pipes, etc. Most of these issues start small but, over time, builds up into a huge problem that can turn your new boiler into junk. Boilers are expensive. Paying for annual maintenance checks is much more cost-effective than having to replace your boiler.
Read more on the 4 common central heating problems here.
How To Fix:
If the problem is a small water tank, you can opt to replace it with a bigger tank. Some boilers heat hot water and store it in a tank. Once that’s used up, it needs time to reheat water again for the next use.
However, if the problem is your boiler, it’s time to call a professional plumber in Nottingham. Unless you have first-hand knowledge and experience on how to repair or replace your boiler, it’s best to leave it to those who have prior experience and certifications.
Low Water Pressure
Low water pressure can be challenging. If you’re an impatient person like me, you probably know what it’s like to deal with a faucet that drizzles instead of pours. Having low water pressure is annoying. However, before you run around checking your pipes, check first with Nottingham’s Water Department. There may just be an issue with your main water supply. If there are no reported problems, you can then look around your house for the problem.
How To Avoid:
You might be living in an elevated area, making it hard for the water to reach your homes.
How To Fix:
Talk to your local plumber first on how you can have this fixed. Installing a water tank or updating your water pump motor is usually the key.
Frozen Pipes
During winter, it’s normal for pipes to freeze. Because of the low temperatures, the water condensate in the pipes freeze
How To Avoid:
Run to the nearest hardware store and buy thermal pipe shields. It’s quite cheap, and installing it is easy. Just run insulation through your piping system, and you can survive the entire winter without dealing with frozen pipes.
How To Fix:
If, for example, you already have a frozen pipe, don’t set it on fire. Most homeowners subject their pipes with extreme temperature change by putting the pipe under a flame. Instead of putting your pipe under more stress, be patient. Wrap the frozen part in hot towels and wait for it to melt over. It may take an hour or two, but it’s better than having a busted pipe because you burned it.
Blocked Drains and Toilet
Is water not draining in your sink? Toilet, not flushing? Chances are you have a blockage somewhere around your piping system.
How To Avoid:
The rubbish inside your pipes causes blocked pipes. Professional plumbers all conclude that flushing down used tissue, hair, sanitary napkins, and the like in your toilet can cause a major blockage. On the other hand, your sink’s pipes are blocked by food bits or solidified grease. When they accumulate and aren’t dealt with properly, your pipe can burst, and your kitchen or bathroom will flood.
How To Fix:
Don’t use industrial-strength drain cleaners. The chemicals are too harsh for your pipes to handle. Try homemade solutions first like baking soda and vinegar. If they don’t work, you can try the old plumber’s snake wire and a plunger. Learning how to unblock a toilet is a life skill that you need to learn how to do on your own. You can end up in a messy situation for days if you don’t do anything about it soon.
As the old saying goes, prevention is better than cure. The same can be said about your plumbing system. By avoiding actions that hurt your pipes, you are actually saving yourself from all the trouble, hassle, and of course, the expenses that come with a broken toilet or faucet.
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