How to Avoid a Plumbing Disaster: 6 Tips for Every Homeowner

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As you stare at your leaky catastrophe helplessly in your drenched clothes, you might wonder what you did (or didn't do) to deserve this.

Every homeowner's worst nightmare is an out-of-control plumbing accident. The sad part is that you could prevent many plumbing emergencies through following some simple best practices.

And what exactly are these "best practices" to avoid a plumbing accident?

That's a question Mister Plumber's CEO, Vlad Bartkov, happily answers by sharing the top 6 plumbing tips every homeowner should know, from his 18 years as a professional plumber in Toronto:

#1. Know the Location of Shut-Off Valves & Water Pipes

If water is spraying about and flooding your precious hardwood and drywall, shutting off the main water supply to your whole house or part of the home is a great emergency response.

But that's only possible if you know where the main water shutoff valve is located. Otherwise, you'll find yourself trying to seal the running leak with a roll of duck tape (bad idea by the way).

Shutting off the main water valve will prevent the spread of water damage and mold growth giving you time to call a plumber to fix the issue.

Knowing the location of your water pipes is incredibly important, too. That's how you prevent leaks when drilling into your drywall, for example. You always want to avoid hitting a hidden water pipe. But if it does happen, you can see why it's important to know where your main shutoff valve is to avoid more extensive plumbing damage.

#2. Protect Your Pipes From the Cold

Nothing beats a Toronto winter. Homeowners know it best with their 1001 winter-related problems, and that includes frozen pipes.

Frozen pipes can be very costly and destructive to your home. If a pipe is exposed to extreme temperatures for too long, the water inside it will freeze and expand causing the pipes to crack or burst. Now you have a water leak on your hands.

You can avoid this problem by winterizing your pipes from the cold and insulating them with special insulation sleeves that you purchase at any hardware store.

You can also protect your home exterior pipes by wrapping them with foam, heating tape, or heat cables that are installed on the interior of the pipe.

Also, pipe bursts occur more frequently when homeowners are away from home (on vacation for example) because internal home temperatures drop too low. So while it might be tempting to save a few bucks on heating when you're away, water damage from frozen pipes can quickly lead to a five-figure repair bill. Keep your home temperature to at least 15º celsius.

#3. Learn how to deal with clogged drains 

Vlad has 100s of customers every month calling him in for clogged drains. But not every cloggy situation requires a plumber. 

And while it's a great idea to play it safe and call a professional for a drain clogging mystery, there are some things a homeowner can do on their own before contacting an expert:

For starters, when handling clogged pipes, don't use your hands to try and remove the wet gunk. You could be exposed to raw sewage or other contaminants that can spread serious infections. Instead, use a plunger to try and remove the clog yourself. If that doesn't work, call a professional plumber to clear the drain.

An easier, less messy option is to pour two liters of boiling water down the drain, which is usually enough to detach any stuck contaminants from the pipe walls.

Or if you have a Drain Snake, use it to try and remove the clog—they’re great for unclogging most drain pipes less than 40mm in diameter. Just be careful not to break or crack your drain pipe while fidgeting with your snake down there.

If your clogged drain is an emergency, you can try using chemicals on it. Drain cleaners can be purchased from any hardware store but should only be used as a last resort—as they're often corrosive, acidic, or alkaline. I.e. they can do more harm than good if they come in contact with your skin while you're trying to fix the drain. That's why it's recommended that drain cleaners be used by trained professionals.

If the problem persists, it's time to call a drain service expert like Mister Plumber or Emergency Drain Services in Toronto.

#5. Take care of your toilet

If you're not careful, that old (or new) toilet in your home can turn into a nightmare. Vlad says treating toilet clogs are one of his most common services because it's always easy to drop something in there and think we're saying goodbye to it forever.

Drain clogs are never fun, but they're especially frustrating when it's time to go and there's no working bathroom at home. That's why you shouldn't flush anything other than toilet paper and your waste down there.

If things do go south, you could try a plunger or drain rod (available at different lengths for varying depths) to clear your pipes before contacting a professional plumber. They're rather inexpensive, one-time purchases that can save you from headaches (and bladder stress) down the road.  They're available for purchase at your local hardware store, too. 

If your efforts aren't working or you're not sure about the problem, it's best to leave a clogged toilet, of all things, to the professionals to avoid a stinky situation.

#5. Scan for Unusual Wet Spots Around Your Home

With all of the plumbing issues that can occur in a home, it's sometimes easy to forget about simple problems like water leaks. Though seemingly "harmless," they can inflict serious long-term damages to the surrounding structure that are expensive to repair.

Of course, don't assume every wet spot is going to be a sign of a clogged drainpipe or burst water heater. It could just be your 5-year-old's little "I was here" mark. But sometimes you may have long-lasting wet spots where there shouldn't be any moisture—and that can be a sign of bigger problems.

Vlad recommends walking around your home and scanning the floors for any unusual wet spots on the wood, tile, or carpeted areas. Also, go around your lawn to identify any unusual wet patches that can indicate an underground pipe leakage.

If you find something that doesn't make sense in your home's plumbing system, check it out. You might have a drain pipe leak in which case an emergency drain service is needed immediately to prevent further damage.

#6. Find a local plumber and get an inspection 

Whether you're a new homeowner or a concerned long-time dweller, a good ol' inspection from an expert is a great way to greenlight your entire plumbing system, flag potential plumbing problems, or find serious damage to fix them so you can sleep in peace.

To avoid spending on costly repairs later, take care of them right now by hiring a professional plumber. They'll be able to identify, for example, drain pipe leaks, warn you about malfunctioning drain snakes or rods, suggest drain cleaning chemicals for hard water areas—or even tell you the best way to use your garbage disposal without breaking it.

Whether it's an emergency clog that needs immediate attention or just a routine inspection before things go south, your home in Toronto deserves the best and most reliable drain services. Mister Plumber has been serving Torontonians for over 18 years, so their professional plumbing expertise is a great option for all your plumbing needs.

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