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Plumbing in Loveland isn’t something that people tend to give much thought to until things go south. However, it is essential to the everyday life of the average American family. From the meals, they prepare the essential utilities that they rely on on a daily basis; pipes are the backbone that makes homes functional.
This is why it is so important to find the type of high-quality plumbing services in Loveland that homeowners can rely on to tackle any kind of job, big or small. That said, there are some simple maintenance and upkeep tasks that homeowners can learn that will not only help make their lives easier but will also help prevent the need for a full sewer line replacement in Loveland later.
When people have a basic understanding of their pipes and how they function, they are likewise much more likely to be able to identify an issue early on and call in professional plumbing services in Loveland to nip it in the bud before it becomes serious.
Keeping that in mind, this article is going to talk about some basic household tasks that all homeowners will want to become familiar with so that they will know when it is time for sewer line repair in Loveland. Be sure to read on to find out more.
Know the Water Source
One of the first things homeowners want to know about their pipes is where their water is coming from.
In most cases, it will either be coming from the city water pipes or a residential well with a private pump. Most urban residents will be in the former category, and most rural residents will be in the latter. Only the people who are connected to a city water source will receive a water bill, so this is one of the easiest ways to find out the answer.
Learn How to Test for Water Quality
At-home water testing kits are widely available and often available at a discount when purchased through the county. These tests will vary in price according to the number of factors they test for and will most often need to be sent to a lab for results. Regardless of if the water is sourced from a private or urban well, it is always important to know and understand what is in it.
Testing the water should be standard procedure when moving into a new location, but it is also good practice to perform water quality tests at least once a year. Urban suppliers are required to perform annual tests and report their findings, but many prudent homeowners prefer to verify the accuracy of results with their own tests as well. Keep in mind that shifting conditions can easily affect the quality of water, so it is important for rural residents to test their water at least once a year.
Know Where to Find the Water Turn Off Main
Leaks happen, and when they do, they can cause a lot of damage very quickly, especially if homeowners don’t know where to find their water turn off main. It’s always better to locate the main in advance rather than scramble around trying to look for it in a panic.
More often than not, there will be a main valve located somewhere near the street. Sometimes there will be a secondary valve as well, and this one is usually in the basement. Look for either a bar type level or a wheel. The former is shut off by pushing either right or down until the water shuts off, and the latter is closed by turning it slowly in a clockwise direction.
When looking to locate the mains, perform a shut-off to test the system and see if it works. Turn off the valve and then try to turn on a facet. If no water comes out, that is the water main to seek out in the case of an emergency.
Locate All Relevant Individual Cut-Off Valves
In addition to the main water valve, any appliances that use water will also have their own individual shut-off valve, which will come in very handy should there be a need to immediately neutralize a local leak or work with one appliance that needs maintenance without having to shut off the water for the entire household.
Go through the home and locate all toilets, sinks, washing machines, and dishwashers to find each of their individual cut-off valves, which will usually look like some kind of small handle, typically tucked away into a less visible area. The valve for the toilet is usually near the floor and close to the wall, for sinks; it will often be tucked behind pipes located near the cupboard wall, and for washing machines, it will be on the backside of the appliance facing the wall.
Bathtubs and showers can be tricky since the valves might be buried in the walls, but be sure to check adjacent closets and cubby holes just in case.
Compare the Meter With the Bill
Anybody who is attached to an urban water system will likewise have a household meter to track their water usage. It is important to know where this meter is so that the readings can be compared with the water bill to make sure there are no discrepancies.
For anybody who needs assistance learning to locate or read their meter, their local water company will usually be more than happy to help. It is also a great time to ask about the price of water per gallon and how often the meters are read.
Knowing this information and carefully monitoring the bills to make sure there are no unexpected spikes in usage will help homeowners ensure that they don’t have any leaks that haven’t been identified or that they aren’t paying for water that they aren’t using.
The Takeaway
Remember to always have the number of a company providing high-quality plumbing services in Loveland on speed dial so that they can always be there to help, and don’t hesitate to reach out to find more about the services they offer either.