You bought your home and everything should be smooth sailing from here. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case when it comes to your new house. Now that it’s yours, you’ll need to take care of it; no more landlord to fix your problems anymore. Some of the worst problems you might deal with are related to your home’s plumbing. To help you get a grasp of what you should know, here are some plumbing issues new homeowners need to know about. Understanding Your Water Main Your water main is how your entire house gets its water from the greater water supply. It’s important to understand where your water main is so you can learn how to shut it off in case of a massive plumbing emergency. You’ll also want to familiarize yourself with it just in case it’s your water main that has the problem. These kinds of issues are better left to professionals since they involve serious plumbing work to fix. Water Pressure Troubles Whether it’s from your sinks, showers, or tubs, one plumbing issue that new homeowners should concern themselves with is how good their water pressure is. Water pressure certainly varies from place to place, but you want to be on guard for when your water pressure seems to change drastically. This could mean any number of problems, but the important thing is to not let this problem go undealt with. It could spell disaster later on if it’s not fixed soon. Drain Problems Perhaps the problem that new homeowners want to deal with the least is one related to the drains. If you’re getting backflow from your drains, call a plumber immediately. If your drains drain slowly or get clogged regularly, it could indicate a larger problem with your plumbing in general. Problems such as these can make your water unsanitary. If you don’t know how to unclog your drains correctly, or if the problems continue to return after unclogging, get a professional’s help. Freezing Pipes Living in an area with inclement weather has its share of extra hardships. One of the ones that new homeowners can forget about is the issue of frozen and burst pipes. A pipe freezing over is bad enough, but if you leave the problem for too long, your pipe can burst and cause untold damage to your house. Make sure you drain your outside faucets of all water before the weather gets too cold to help prevent this problem. Water Leakage It’s crucial that new homeowners know the signs of a leaky pipe somewhere in their walls. The problem is that a leaky pipe can still work, while also doing damage to your home’s structure. Some signs you need to watch for are discolored walls, mold growth, and a musty smell. You can fix leaky pipes if you’re handy enough, but don’t be afraid to call a professional if you’re unsure.
