Leaky Pipes & Dripping Taps

Posted on: 19 July 2017

As a homeowner, you should always ensure your home's plumbing system is in good repair and working properly to avoid water leaks or burst pipes and to ensure your family always has adequate hot water available. Note a few commonly asked questions about residential plumbing so you know how to maintain pipes properly and so you know when you need help from a local company that provides plumbing services.

Why do sinks smell?

Kitchen and bathroom sinks will have a curved pipe on their underside. In some cases, that curved pipe can get clogged with food residue or other debris, and it begins to smell.

You can typically remove this curved section of pipe under the sink on your own and then clean it out, or try a simple mixture of vinegar and baking soda. Sprinkle some baking soda into the drain, then slowly pour a small amount of white vinegar over this until you see a bubbling foam come back up into the sink. Let this foam recede and then run hot water down the drain, and this might clear that debris.

Why invest in higher-priced pipes or new pipes altogether?

There is actually a large amount of pressure that pushes water into your home from the pipes connected to your city water supply or your own well. Pipes that are thin and weak or that have poor-quality connections won't easily withstand all that pressure; they are more prone to water leaks and outright bursting. To protect your home from this damage, invest in high-quality copper or PVC pipes and replace your home's plumbing pipes once they get older or start to develop any signs of leaking.

There's never enough hot water. Does the water heater need to be replaced?

A water heater that doesn't hold enough water for your daily use will need to be replaced with something that has a larger tank; however, the tank size isn't the only reason you might run out of hot water sooner than you'd like. For example, if the tank is located in the basement, it might get cold very easily, and then struggle to maintain its internal temperature. An insulating blanket can keep the water inside the tank warm. The tank may also have a buildup of hard water minerals, and this sediment will cool down the water inside the tank. Having the tank cleaned will usually fix the problem.