Every Homeowner Needs A Trusted Plumber | Irving, TX
Your home’s plumbing infrastructure is an integral part of daily life in Irving, TX. It has such an important role in our lives that plumbing can be an opportunity to achieve many positive goals. An experienced plumber can offer advice and help you update, repair, or replace plumbing components. These improvements may raise the value of your home, facilitate efficient use of water, or enhance your home’s appearance. Sometimes upgrades can even make daily life more convenient and let you complete household tasks more easily.
An experienced plumber can do much more than maintenance and repairs. They can provide suggestions to modify plumbing to meet your household’s needs more effectively and find innovative solutions to challenging situations. Plumbers can also handle maintenance and repairs for homes using natural gas. Homeowners should attend to plumbing maintenance as an important aspect of caring for one’s home. If you haven’t thought about plumbing for a while, your home may benefit from an inspection by a professional plumber.
Hot Water Heaters
Hot water heaters are a frequent subject of plumbing service calls. Although a temporary lack of hot water doesn’t sound like a big deal, many of us aren’t very good judges of our hot water usage. A malfunctioning hot water heater seems much more significant when it happens. It’s not uncommon to frequently reach for the hot water tap without thinking about it just to be reminded that nothing is coming out of the faucet.
Cold showers may be nice sometimes, but they aren’t very pleasant when they become necessary instead of an occasional choice. Dishwashers and washing machines also use hot water. Skipping certain tasks until the hot water heater is repaired or replaced is a practical solution, but dirty dishes and laundry can pile up very quickly. Putting off routine tasks may lead to time-consuming efforts to catch up.
Minimize or avoid a hot water drought by consulting a plumber at the first sign of trouble. Potential signs of hot water heater problems include poor hot water pressure, discolored or foul-smelling water, rusty patches on the heater, broken thermostats, or lukewarm water temperature. You may see moisture pooling around the water heater or notice strange sounds, and gas-powered units may have a problem with the pilot light or circuit breaker.
Traditional water heater models last approximately 10 to 15 years. Tankless water heaters, also known as on-demand units, can last up to 20 years. Talk to your plumber about possible replacement options when you know your water heater is nearing the end of its functional lifetime.
Water Lines
Proper maintenance can help you get the most out of your home’s plumbing, but various materials have different expected lifespans. The location and function of each fixture or component also contribute to wear and tear that eventually degrades materials. Water supply pipes are under continuous pressure, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they need to be replaced frequently. The average lifespan for supply pipes is 70 to 80 years for copper, 80 to 100 years for brass, and 80 to 100 years for galvanized steel.
It’s always best to have a plumber replace old pipes. Incorrect installation could put new pipes at risk of cracking or breaking long before deteriorating is expected. Amateur installation can also interfere with water pressure and prevent sufficient quantities of water from reaching every plumbing fixture in the home.
Drain lines eventually need to be replaced too, especially if they’ve been subjected to tree root intrusion or frequent adverse weather events in Irving, TX. Plastic PVC drain lines last between 25 to 40 years, while cast iron lasts between 80 to 100 years.
It’s usually possible to repair faulty water faucets, but it may be better to replace them if leaks and other problems occur frequently. Faucet lines can also be replaced with new models to improve water use efficiency or more convenient operation. Many bathroom remodeling projects also include new faucets. Garbage disposals also require maintenance and last about 15 years.
Appliances
Washing machines are one of the most common causes of leaks resulting in water damage. Your washing machine supply hoses should be replaced every three years, but damaged hoses may need to be replaced more often. Watch out for cracks, unraveling, or kinks in your hoses. A rusted or leaky hose should be addressed immediately. Turn off the water supply and call a plumber right away. Bubbling hoses indicate excessive pressure, and this is an even more urgent problem. Significant flooding may occur when that pressure forces its way out.
Toilets contain a variety of components that work together. If any component isn’t functioning properly, it can affect every other part of the toilet as well. The average lifespan for wax seals in toilet plumbing is about 20 to 30 years. Levers, valves, flappers, and various fittings may only last 4 to 5 years. There are no recommended guidelines for the handle, so it only needs to be replaced if it isn’t working right.
Not many homes have well pumps in comparison to homes with treated water. However, a well pump is essential for households that rely on private wells for their water. A well pump may last up to 12 to 15 years with proper maintenance and care, but constant heavy use may reduce functional lifespan. Make sure your well pump is always repaired or serviced by a reputable professional plumber.
Call Tioga Plumbing & Electric for any plumbing issues in Irving, TX. You can schedule an appointment for specific repairs or request an inspection to make sure everything is working properly. The trained technicians at Tioga can also help you decide whether a faulty appliance or fixture should be repaired or replaced.
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