Dear New Homeowner:
Congratulations on owning your own home! May you have many enjoyable years living in it. Yet as a new homeowner, there are certain things you need to know. One of those things is your plumbing system. Like most of the systems in your home, you probably don’t pay much attention to it until something goes wrong.
Here are a few things that you should take the time to learn about your plumbing system that may come in handy if problems ever develop.
Know where things are.
Know where the main water pipe to your house is and how to shut it off. The shutoff valve may be at the water meter or at some other location. Wherever it is, you need to find it and know how to turn it off. Learn where the shut off valves are to all of your plumbing fixtures. Each sink and toilet has one (usually right under the sink or behind the toilet). Then, once you have located them, make sure you know how to use them. Be aware, however, that you don’t want to use them unless you really have to. These valves are not designed for heavy use, and using them repeatedly may cause them to malfunction.
Learn how to turn off plumbing valves.
Learn how to turn the gas supply off. You should learn where to turn off the gas at the source and at each appliance. Learn how to turn off the water to the water heater. This will come in handy if you have a leak in your water heater or some other problem. This way, you can turn off the water supply to the water heater without disrupting the supply to the rest of the house. Also, put a pan or some other container under your water heater. This is a precautionary measure in case your heater springs a leak. If you have a pan underneath, you can prevent a lot of water damage.
Learn about your water bill and water pressure.
Learn how to decipher your water bill and read your water meter. This way, you can make sure you are being billed properly, and you can determine if you have a leak or not. If you are having trouble, your water company can help you out. Find out what the water pressure is in your house. It should be less than 80 pounds per square inch. Anything over that is too high. High pressure can lead to leaks and damage pipes. You can buy a water pressure gauge for under $10, or you can find out the water pressure from the water company.
Find out what kind of waste system you have.
Is it sewer or septic tank? Also know where the clean-out plugs are for the system. This will be helpful if you get a clog because clogs usually occur at the clean-out plugs.
Plumbing Dynamics Is Here to Help New Home Owners
If you’d like more information on your home’s plumbing system, ask Plumbing Dynamics to come over to check on its condition and repair small problems before they become big ones. Get in touch with us today for more information about our Carrollton plumbers and our services.
