Plumbing Horror Stories IV
With Halloween, Día de los Muertos and Friday the 13th — This October has been full of fear and fright! And you want to enjoy the family fun of the year’s scariest season instead of dealing with a house that’s haunted by plumbing disasters! Read more below about some of the most common plumbing horror stories that occur this time of year, and what you can do to stop them.
Horror story #1: Your pipes keep you up at night.
With temperatures rapidly dropping, the next cold snap could freeze your pipes and cause extensive water damage to your property. And since temperatures typically drop at night, chances are good that your pipes could burst when you're not awake to catch it. The cost and inconvenience of replacing burst pipes can send a chill down your spine! So take the necessary steps to prevent pipes from freezing in your home in the first place, including having a professional relocate exposed pipes or insulating your basement, attic and/or crawl spaces to raise the temperatures in these areas.
Horror story #2: Mystery goo clogs your garbage disposal.
If properly maintained, your garbage disposal has an average life expectancy of 12 years. But shoving the wrong foods down your disposal can cause immediate problems, like blockages that can burn out your motor or create unnecessary wear and tear. If you care about the health of your garbage disposal, then watch what you feed it! Beware of jam hazards such as bones, seeds, shells and fruit pits. And watch out for cumulative cloggers such as grease, gum and peels. Remember — When in doubt, throw it out!”
Horror story #3: Your shower starts screaming.
If you have hard water and don't have a water softener, the noise could be caused accumulating mineral deposits that have clogged your shower head. Inspect your shower nozzle for off-white areas of mineral deposits. Then clean your shower head by placing it in a bowl filled with equal parts white vinegar and water and letting it soak for at least an hour. The acids in vinegar naturally break down mineral deposits caused by regular shower use. After soaking, scrub your shower head with a toothbrush to get rid of any excess minerals that the vinegar didn’t catch. Finally, rinse the shower head with water and twist it back on the fixture.
Horror story #4: Your toilet has a phantom flusher.
Is your toilet emptying and refilling on its own? A toilet that seems to repeatedly flush itself is a common problem that is usually caused by a slow leak from the tank to the bowl. Once the water level drops, the tank automatically refills, causing the "flushing" sound. Phantom flushing is usually caused by a flapper that is not sealing completely. Toilet leaks are the most common culprit of high water bills, so it’s best have your plumber fix problem sooner rather than later.
Horror story #5: Your water heater is brewing, bubbling and crackling.
That strange noise coming from your water heater means there is sediment at its bottom that needs to be flushed. Built up sediment forces your water heater’s burner to work harder, causing slower heat transfer, less available hot water and higher energy bills. To prevent the premature failure of your unit, you should schedule annual professional water heater maintenance that ensures your water heater works better for longer. You’ll increase the efficiency, extend the lifespan, and improve the safety of your unit.
Horror story #6: You hear an eerie trickle whenever it rains.
If you only hear dripping when there is rainy weather or ice/snow on the roof, then you probably have a leaky roof. If you see any telltale signs of water damage — such as missing roof shingles or stained ceilings or walls — call a roofer immediately to find and fix the leak before it destroys your wallboards, insulation, or entire roof! A leaking roof can occur when accumulating twigs, leaves and dirt clog your gutters, preventing them from directing water away from your roof. The overflowing water from your gutters then pools on your roof instead, causing extra stress. One of the most proactive things you can do to prevent a leaky roof is to regularly clean your gutters.
Don’t make these stories scarier than they need to be! Contact ARS®/Rescue Rooter® if your home has been hit with a plumbing disaster, or if you’d like to prevent one from occurring. Call 1-800-277-9400 today for more information about our plumbing services.
