2 Things You Need To Do To Protect Your Home's Plumbing

When it comes to dealing with a damaged home appliance or an untimely flood, most homeowners write off the problem as simple bad luck. However, many of these issues have the same hidden culprit: hidden plumbing issues. Here are two things that you need to do to protect your home's plumbing and why: 

1: Check Your Water Pressure

Because a kitchen faucet that packs a little punch can be beneficial when you spray off dishes, most homeowners don't think of high water pressure as a plumbing problem. On the contrary, you might be tempted to brag about your powerful water or enjoy showers that feel like a microdermabrasion scrub instead of a simple rinsing. However, high water pressure can spell trouble for your home's plumbing.

Normal residential water pressure should be between 30 to 80 pounds per square inch. Unfortunately, some municipalities set main line pressure much higher than this, which is why many people struggle with high water pressure. This water pressure can put strain on the interior plumbing lines in your home, causing junction gaps or exacerbating existing leaks.

To ward off problems, hire a professional plumber to check your water pressure. If it is too high, your plumber might be able to put a pressure regulator on your main line to slow the flow.

2: Get A Water Softener

Another issue that homeowners often overlook is hard water. Because hard water seems harmless, and most people grow accustomed to it over time, it might not seem like something that could harm your plumbing. However, hard water, which is essentially water that is packed with minerals such as calcium and magnesium, can cause deposits to collect in your water lines and appliances.

For example, as water streams through your hot water heater, sediment can collect in the bottom of the tank. Over time, this sediment can become heavy and actually cause the bottom of your water heater to fall out. As your tank struggles to refill itself, it can flood your home. Hard water can also clog up water faucets, making it more difficult for water to pass through. In addition to making it take longer to fill up sinks and bathtubs, this accumulation can also give your faucet an unsightly green tinge.

Fortunately, water softeners remove these extra minerals from your water, so that your water doesn't leave behind these frustrating deposits. Although water softeners are expensive, typically costing between $1,000 and $2,000, they are capable of doubling the life of many of your home appliances.

By being proactive and eliminating plumbing issues, you might be able to protect your appliances and prevent frustrating messes. If you suspect that you have hard water or high water pressure, contact a plumber (like Hilmans Plumbing) in your area.