This is a continuation of the main F.A.Q. page, specifically dedicated to frequently asked plumbing questions. We hope it is of help to you and your family! We begin our discussion with tips for reducing plumbing costs, incurred both by plumbing service calls and by plumbing equipment failure.
A. One of the main themes in this survey of plumbing tips is TO ACT EARLY to prevent major plumbing problems. Early detection and action (usually on the part of a certified, trained plumbing technician) is key to saving hundreds, even thousands, on plumbing repairs. With this in mind, be on the lookout for small pools of water and the signs of dried pools. Dried pools of water look like large (or small) “ink blots.” They will usually be brown or gray, depending on what kind of fluid it was and for how long it had stayed there. Many people make the mistake of immediately rushing out and purchasing Killz or another brand of primer and simply covering up the water damaged area by painting it. This is a grave mistake.
When your first notice those brownish-gray spots, immediately search out the cause of the leak. If you don’t, the source of the water damage will simply release its liquid again. If you can’t, A-1 American Services would be happy to help. Once located, if you know how to stop a leak, by all means try your best to dam it up. The importance of stopping the leaking liquid may not be immediately clear. The reason is rather simple, though; water descends into the wood or other surface material and wears out the fiber of the material in question. The longer it takes to stop the leak, the more costly it will be to repair the material. A-1 American Services is proud to announce that it is Hampton Roads’ premier plumbing repair company.
B. Turn off appliances if you think they may be the cause of water leakage. In that same vein, turn off electrical appliances that are on or near the forming pool(s) of water; this is to prevent the risk of electrocution.
C. Know where your water shut-off valve is! The importance of this cannot be overstated; in emergency scenarios like a burst water pipe, the time you take to shut off your home’s water valve is positively correlated with the amount of damage your home will incur. In other words, when the water starts to rush out, turn off your home’s water supply quickly! Doing this will require you to first KNOW WHERE YOUR SHUT-OFF VALVE IS! So if you’re unsure where your water shut-off valve is, stop reading this article and take a moment to find out.
D. Speaking of burst water pipes, one main reason your water pipes will burst is because they freeze over during the winter and colder months. Prevent this by doing one of several things. The simplest and cheapest preventative method involves buying and installing insulation. This is often a pinkish, “fluffy” substance, but it may well look differently. The point of insulation is to act as a buffer between the pipe in question and the elements (such as cold air). With insulation, the pipe will not become magically warm during winter or the colder months. However, the insulation will prevent the pipes from developing frost and freezing. When pipes are frozen, they become ticking time bombs just waiting to burst. Unfortunately, even with proper insulation, they may still freeze (and perhaps burst). If this happens, call for plumbing emergencies Virginia Beach; call A-1 American Services.
E. Another important tip for preventing frozen pipes in the winter and cooler months is to unattach those outdoor hoses. They can form ice inside them and can lead to the freezing of interior pipes. If you need to use the hoses for something quickly, like washing off the dog after a muddy run, it’s ok to temporarily re-attach the hoses for such a purpose, but remember to unattach them once finished!
F. A couple more notes on preventing frozen pipes. First, it is very helpful to open up all the cabinets and drawers, for example those beneath the sink, because this will allow heat from the house to enter those areas which are near pipes, thereby warming the pipes. Lastly, and this one’s only for the coldest of cold days: turn your sink and shower faucets to bare trickle. This will allow for water to flow through the pipes, and it is much harder (though technically not impossible) for pipes to freeze when this water is flowing. Alas, as the Scottish poet Robert Burns noted, “The best laid plans of mice and men/ Go awry,” meaning that even if you try your hardest to prevent burst water pipes and the ensuing rush of destructive water, something may still go wrong. If it does, call the emergency plumbing company Virginia Beach and all of Hampton Roads trusts, A-1 American Services.
G. Even if you followed the previous steps to the letter, your pipes may still freeze (e.g. you live in Antarctica). If this does happen, there’s a simple way to thaw them out. Unfortunately, you may have to duplicate the procedure over and over, but it’s better than having lots of water damage in your home; trust me. Or a neighbor who had to suffer through the process of water restoration!
The best way to approach a thawed pipe is…very carefully! All you need is a hair dryer and patience. Simply place the hair dryer (in ON mode) over the thawed pipe until you see the ice start to melt. There’s no shortcuts here: DO NOT use an open flame to try and thaw the pipe more quickly! You may melt the pipe in the process, along with other possible complications. If you do melt the pipe or damage it in another way, you may get lucky and the water inside will be frozen (so as not to cause rushing, destructive water). Once again, if this happens, don’t panic; call the plumbing experts Norfolk Va and all of Hampton Roads trusts, call A-1 American Services.
F. Besides the risk of busted water pipes, there are other relatively simply preventative plumbing techniques that you can implement from day to day to avoid the need for calling a professional plumber from A-1 American Services. For example, using less toilet paper may be an effective tool to prevent toilet clogs/backups. Multiple flushings will also be helpful for the same reason.
G. For drain maintenance, both in your sink and shower, you may try several techniques. One is to sharpen the blades of your disposal with ice cubes. The blades will cut through the ice in a manner which, due to the friction, causes the blades to sharpen and thus do a better job at cutting through at all the manner of food debris to which it is introduced. For your shower drain, there is really no simple answer…except to keep your wife out of the shower! Hair build-up is the number one reason of shower drain blockages. Drain cleaning Virginia Beach is one of the many things A-1 American’s knowledgeable technicians have been tried for.
H. That’s the last of em’! If you have any severe problems that you’ve either mishandled or if some entirely new problem crops up, call the plumbers Virginia Beach has come to trust, A-1 American Services.
A-1 American Services provides air conditioning, heating and plumbing services, like plumbing repair to homes and businesses in the Hampton Roads Virginia cities of Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Newport News and Hampton and north into Williamsburg. A-1 American provides emergency service and repair, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including weekends and holidays. A-1 American charges by the job, not by the hour. A-1 American prides itself on immediate response, punctuality, courtesy and customer satisfaction. Call today 757-425-2400
