Frozen pipes are a huge cause of hidden plumbing leaks and flooding in your home. As soon as water freezes, it expands and forces itself out of the weakest part of any plumbing system, causing it to burst. During freezing winter months, it's best to leave your tap running, especially if you plan to go on vacation. This steady flow can help prevent any freezing.
Although proper insulation is the more efficient and wiser long term-solution, it's a big relief to have some frost-free hose bibs installed in case of emergency flooding. Sometimes a faulty gasket or a loose connection to the wall may be the only cause of a leak. In this case, a simple replacement or repair, either by hand or with a wrench, will be required.
Leaks may also be cause by old mechanical parts or washers and o-rings. Don't overlook proper grout and sealant for your fixtures, as these aren't just needed for cosmetic reasons.
For a thorough run-down on leak prevention check, out this checklist. It covers much of what's needed to prevent and repair leaks, especially during the fall or winter when plumbing problems can be especially tricky due to cold weather.Industry leaders and renowned HVAC and plumbing firm, Air Assurance in Broken Arrow, can install a system that detects leaks in your home before they become a problem. Water alarms are a relatively simple technology, although they're all too commonly neglected by homeowners.
Essentially, these alarms feature a simple circuit that breaks when the slightest bit of moisture makes contact with it, causing it to sound off. Contact Air Assurance to give you the whole run-down on leaky plumbing solutions in the Broken Arrow area -- you'll be glad you did!
Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Credit/Copyright Attribution: “3Dalia/Shutterstock”