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If your home's electrical system is comparable to your body's nervous system, then the plumbing system in your home is the digestive system. Both play equally essential roles in your home's health and overall function. For this reason, it is crucial to fix minor issues before they become more significant problems.
In this blog, our home service experts outline common household plumbing annoyances that are often left ignored and turn into big problems down the road. We believe it is important to know the potential consequences common household plumbing problems can cause while stressing the necessity of fixing them as soon as possible.
Dripping Faucet
Leaky faucets can seem more of an annoyance than a problem due to the constant dripping of water. However, the dripping can cause more severe problems.
Rust
Metal and water don't get along after a while, especially if the metal never finds a chance to dry before it is exposed to more water fully. The prolonged moisture in the pipes of your sink or bathtub will cause your pipes to rust faster than intended. When rust forms and spreads, it can build up in certain areas causing various valves to clog. When the valves clog, the faucet will leak in greater quantities, eventually leading to cracks and weak points in the pipes. If the weakening of the pipes becomes too severe, it can lead to the pipe bursting, resulting in intense water damage and expensive repairs.
Eco-Unfriendly
While it might seem like a leaky faucet is just a few drops of water daily, those drops will add up quickly over time. In fact, a faucet that leaks at approximately one drip per second will add up to over 3,000 gallons of water yearly. This amount of water is equivalent to 180 showers. That's a lot of wasted water!
Rot and Mold
The surrounding areas of your faucet eventually become moist as the water continues to leak. The surfaces, especially wood, will begin to warp, rot, and grow mold. In severe cases, your cabinets and floors may become too weak to hold the weight of your belongings or yourself and can collapse. Additionally, you will see dark mold patches forming due to constant moisture. Mold can cause health problems, skin irritation, staining, and a musty smell.
Constantly Running Toilet
Unlike a clogged toilet, a running toilet can signify other underlying problems. Whether a flush valve, faulty handle, or fill valve, it is crucial to have a professional fix the problem as soon as possible.
Increased Water Bill
Since the water is constantly flowing, your water usage is also growing. For this reason, you will witness an increase in your water bill. The longer you wait to fix the issue, the higher your bills will continue to grow. On average, a constantly running toilet wastes about 30 gallons of water daily.
Risk of Flood
If you have a septic system, the increased amount of water entering the tank can be overwhelming for your system, resulting in flooding your drain field. Flooding your drain field is highly unpleasant to your nose and your wallet. Repairs to having this fixed are far greater than just repairing your toilet in the first place.
Sump Pump Failure
A reliable sump pump is your first line of defense against flooding caused by severe rain or a burst pipe. When the sump pump fails, it can cause more flooding and devastating water damage. For this reason, it is imperative you have a system that is reliable and running smoothly.
Flood Damage
When your sump pump fails to work correctly, the water from flooding will seep into your home's foundation. It will then settle in the lowest spots of the floor, lacking adequate ventilation for the water to dry thoroughly. The existing water in the cracks of your foundation will build up and cause your basement to flood more often and severely.
Mold
Moisture from the water seeping into cracks and crevices not only weaken the foundation's integrity but also allow mold to grow. Mold in your home harms your health and severely decreases the air quality inside. If the mold becomes too severe, the cost of having it removed will be far greater than if you had fixed your sump pump in the first place.
We Can Help!
Don't let your small annoyances become big problems. Schedule an appointment with Pine State Services today! Contact a team member today at (207) 747-1210, so we can ensure your home continues to run smoothly and avoids the need for expensive repairs.