Your plumbing system is extremely important and generally reliable, but it is prone to breaking down in a number of common ways. This is particularly true for a few components or features that tend to cause more than their fair share of the issues. Knowing where to expect the problem gives you a good place to start and it allows you to take proactive steps to prevent some of the common issues that these different parts of your plumbing system might face. In this blog, we’ll examine five of the most common parts of your plumbing system to break and what you can do to protect them and keep them working properly.
Drains
Your plumbing system consists of two fundamental “sides,” per se: your water lines and your drains. While your water lines bring water where they need to go (and more on them in a moment), your drains play a role of equally fundamental importance: carrying used and potentially contaminated water (as well as any waste contained in it) away to your sewage treatment system. A drain is a line that collects this water and waste and then directs it out toward your sewer, where this can happen. They are found throughout your home, including nearly anywhere that you have a water-utilizing fixture installed.
Your drains may be the most common thing to break in your plumbing system for one fairly innocuous reason: they have a tendency to clog. The waste they collect in addition to the water is often sticky, viscous, or solid in some way, and that slowly collects and accumulates at other points in your drain line, resulting in the drain eventually slowing down or even stopping completely. The best way to prevent this is a simple one: be aware of what you put down the drain and don’t put things down the drain that could greatly contribute to clog formation.
Sewer Lines
Speaking of drains, they all have to lead to one particular point so that all of the water and waste can be delivered to a waste treatment facility or mechanism. This singular point is your sewer line. Your sewer line either connects to a public sewage system that carries water and waste to your local public waste treatment facility, or it connects to an on-site septic water treatment system. Because all of the water and waste that your home produces needs to flow through this line, it is subject to a lot of wear and tear, and over the years it’s not uncommon for them to experience their share of issues.
Sewer lines are generally built from metal, and they are designed to last for decades without issue. However, as the years go by, the corrosion from the different substances that pass through them can eventually wear these lines out, causing them to crack, leak, and even fall apart. Lines can also sustain damage from environmental factors like earthquakes, settling foundations, shifting soil, excessive ground moisture, and more. Tree roots are also a mortal enemy of these lines.
The best way to take care of your sewer line is to simply avoid putting things down the drain that could cause a problem, such as a clog or buildup. It’s also a good idea to avoid anything particularly corrosive, such as chemical drain cleaners or strong acids. Second, it’s a good idea to have your sewer lines inspected regularly. A sewer line camera inspection every other year can help you keep your sewer in good shape and get any emerging problems repaired before they turn into a total line replacement.
Water Pressure Regulators
Got a leaking toilet? Dripping faucet and shower? Faulty water heater? All of these problems and even a few others? Believe it or not, these problems are not isolated—they could all be connected by excessive water pressure. As more and more people become connected to our water supply, the water utility needs to turn the pressure in the system up higher and higher in order to make sure everyone has water at all times. That means the water entering your home could be placing a huge burden on seals, gaskets, and other parts of your plumbing system that have the responsibility to contain your water. The solution: a water pressure regulator.
Pressure regulators will generally only last roughly 2 to 3 years before they need to be replaced. If you notice that your water pressure seems to be falling off, then you probably need a regulator replacement. If your water pressure seems to be causing a number of other problems like pipe or faucet leaks, then you probably need a pressure regulator service.
Water Lines
Water lines have no moving parts, and thus most people think they’re virtually immune to issues. However, they do experience problems in several cases: they can be prone to leaking and prone to bursting. Bursting generally only happens when water is under way too much pressure and is contained too tightly. This type of problem is not common. However, excessive water pressure can cause leaks. Water lines can also become blocked by accumulations of limescale and can even corrode over time.
Water Heaters
Finally, water heaters are a source of a huge number of problems for homeowners, and most of those problems are centered around one flaw: they eventually start to leak. When your water heater leaks, you need to replace it. Repairing a leaking tank is extremely difficult and almost never the cost-effective option. However, replacing a tank can be a tedious and expensive undertaking, particularly when you consider that your average water heater only lasts about 8 to 9 years. Instead, we recommend replacing your water heater tank with a tankless water heater. Tankless water heaters last longer, work better, and never run out of hot water to supply your home with!
Got a plumbing problem? Bring it to the experts at All Pro Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical! Give us a call at (909) 500-8193 to schedule your service.