ArtsAutosBooksBusinessEducationEntertainmentFamilyFashionFoodGamesGenderHealthHolidaysHomeHubPagesPersonal FinancePetsPoliticsReligionSportsTechnologyTravel

Why Not to Avoid Plumbing Problems

Updated on November 25, 2017

There's an old saying that prevention is the best defense. When a problem does occur, however, timeliness becomes key. While it may seem like an inconvenience now, there are many potential consequences of allowing a problem to continue. Where dropping a hundred may seem like a steep cost, a delayed solution can grow to the thousands if further damage occurs. Especially with plumbing, where even small amounts of water can do substantial harm, it is essential to promptly correct the issue.

Leaky Pipes & Facets

Leaky pipes and faucets can take a decent chuck of money even before they are addressed since the water lost is still water paid for. A showerhead leaking at ten drips a minute can add up to five hundred gallons lost over an entire year. On top of that, there is the added inconvenience of lost water pressure which might even increase water consumption in the home.

The bigger threats from plumbing leaks, specifically with pipes, are water damage and mold. If water damage occurs, especially where there is wood, it can be very involved and costly to replace. Hardwood flooring cost between $12 and $30 per square foot. Add to this the cost of installation, and the longer it has been allowed to progress, the more will need to be replaced.

And while the moisture sits, it can lead to black mold. This not only requires a plumber but also a mold remediation company. As the mold must be removed entirely, whole sections of ceilings, floors and walls may have to be replaced as well. A hundred square feet of drywall can cost as much as $400 before service fees and the remediation service itself can run between $500 and $3,000.

Clogged Drains

Much like leaky pipes and faucets, the unfortunate circumstance of clogged drains is that the damage occurs slowly and mostly out of sight. Even invasive tree roots can cause pipes to back up and water to move back towards the drains. It is often not until the pipes are almost entirely plugged and water pools in the sink or tub that homeowners realize that there is even a problem.

As hair, grease and other materials collect in the pipes, so can bacteria, mildew and mold. This becomes worse when there is condensation. Water that stands during use can become dirty and unsanitary. As standing water slowly drains and the chlorine dissipates, it can leave a pink, slimy substance on the surface of plumbing fixtures. This is caused by an airborne bacteria that thrives off of moisture and oxygen. While it is not harmful, the stain left from it is extremely difficult to remove.

Additionally, though a clogged drain can be addressed without the assistance of a plumber by using augers to clear the blockage, allowing it to remain may pack it down further and take away this option. The cost can jump up exponentially depending on the tool the plumber is ultimately required to use where even a multi-use auger is only around $20. This is why it is important not to treat this a new issue, but a developing one, and tackle it at the very first sign of trouble.

Water Heater

Water heaters don't require much attention and, like the pipes in a home, aren't often considered. What maintenance they do require, however, is essential. It is especially important to ensure that the anode rod is checked regularly. If the rod has more than six inches of core steel wire exposed, the rod is less than a half inch thick or it is coated with calcium, it will need to be replaced.

The anode rod is a sacrificial tool to prevent corrosion in the water heater tank, which means that if it is not addressed when needed, the life of the water heater may be reduced significantly. Replacing an entire unit is a base price of $900, where replacing the rod is often around $20.

working

This website uses cookies

As a user in the EEA, your approval is needed on a few things. To provide a better website experience, hubpages.com uses cookies (and other similar technologies) and may collect, process, and share personal data. Please choose which areas of our service you consent to our doing so.

For more information on managing or withdrawing consents and how we handle data, visit our Privacy Policy at: https://corp.maven.io/privacy-policy

Show Details
Necessary
HubPages Device IDThis is used to identify particular browsers or devices when the access the service, and is used for security reasons.
LoginThis is necessary to sign in to the HubPages Service.
Google RecaptchaThis is used to prevent bots and spam. (Privacy Policy)
AkismetThis is used to detect comment spam. (Privacy Policy)
HubPages Google AnalyticsThis is used to provide data on traffic to our website, all personally identifyable data is anonymized. (Privacy Policy)
HubPages Traffic PixelThis is used to collect data on traffic to articles and other pages on our site. Unless you are signed in to a HubPages account, all personally identifiable information is anonymized.
Amazon Web ServicesThis is a cloud services platform that we used to host our service. (Privacy Policy)
CloudflareThis is a cloud CDN service that we use to efficiently deliver files required for our service to operate such as javascript, cascading style sheets, images, and videos. (Privacy Policy)
Google Hosted LibrariesJavascript software libraries such as jQuery are loaded at endpoints on the googleapis.com or gstatic.com domains, for performance and efficiency reasons. (Privacy Policy)
Features
Google Custom SearchThis is feature allows you to search the site. (Privacy Policy)
Google MapsSome articles have Google Maps embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
Google ChartsThis is used to display charts and graphs on articles and the author center. (Privacy Policy)
Google AdSense Host APIThis service allows you to sign up for or associate a Google AdSense account with HubPages, so that you can earn money from ads on your articles. No data is shared unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
Google YouTubeSome articles have YouTube videos embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
VimeoSome articles have Vimeo videos embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
PaypalThis is used for a registered author who enrolls in the HubPages Earnings program and requests to be paid via PayPal. No data is shared with Paypal unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
Facebook LoginYou can use this to streamline signing up for, or signing in to your Hubpages account. No data is shared with Facebook unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
MavenThis supports the Maven widget and search functionality. (Privacy Policy)
Marketing
Google AdSenseThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Google DoubleClickGoogle provides ad serving technology and runs an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Index ExchangeThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
SovrnThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Facebook AdsThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Amazon Unified Ad MarketplaceThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
AppNexusThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
OpenxThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Rubicon ProjectThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
TripleLiftThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Say MediaWe partner with Say Media to deliver ad campaigns on our sites. (Privacy Policy)
Remarketing PixelsWe may use remarketing pixels from advertising networks such as Google AdWords, Bing Ads, and Facebook in order to advertise the HubPages Service to people that have visited our sites.
Conversion Tracking PixelsWe may use conversion tracking pixels from advertising networks such as Google AdWords, Bing Ads, and Facebook in order to identify when an advertisement has successfully resulted in the desired action, such as signing up for the HubPages Service or publishing an article on the HubPages Service.
Statistics
Author Google AnalyticsThis is used to provide traffic data and reports to the authors of articles on the HubPages Service. (Privacy Policy)
ComscoreComScore is a media measurement and analytics company providing marketing data and analytics to enterprises, media and advertising agencies, and publishers. Non-consent will result in ComScore only processing obfuscated personal data. (Privacy Policy)
Amazon Tracking PixelSome articles display amazon products as part of the Amazon Affiliate program, this pixel provides traffic statistics for those products (Privacy Policy)
ClickscoThis is a data management platform studying reader behavior (Privacy Policy)