Plumbing is a huge part of the function of your home. Leaks can cause structural damage, and drains can clog and slow down water flow.
For these reasons, it’s important to keep up with your plumbing maintenance. However, even with regular maintenance, there may be some issues that arise.
Leak Detection
Your home’s plumbing provides your family with reliable water and waste services, but even the smallest disruptions can cause big problems. Thankfully, most plumbing problems are easy to identify with the help of expert Plumbers in Shreveport.
The pipes that supply water to your home are susceptible to cracks, leaks and other damage. These are typically the result of aging, corrosion, or pressure changes. Water lines may also break due to sudden stresses on the pipe. For example, storm surges during hurricane season can cause land to shift, causing the soil around the pipes to sink and stress them.
Leak detection services use specialized electronic equipment to find the location of hidden leaks. These devices are able to hear the noises that leaks create, such as hissing and whooshing, and they can pinpoint the source of the leak. For example, the team at GPRS uses a special device called a leak noise correlator that sends signals to sensors placed on both sides of the pipe.
Clogged Drains
Drain clogs are one of the most common plumbing issues. If left untreated, they can lead to water damage and a whole host of other problems. Regular drain cleaning from a professional Shreveport plumber can help prevent them.
Lint from the laundry room, grease and soap buildup from the kitchen and sediment from the pipes can all accumulate over time and block the flow of water. A clog in one fixture can affect all of them, since kitchen and bathroom drains are often linked.
Running right alongside the Red River and with ground elevations near sea level, Shreveport experiences a lot of flooding and storm surges. These can cause soil to shift and sink, stressing and breaking pipes. Leaks and clogs are also common in this area due to hard water, which can cause mineral buildup and rusting in the pipes. A plumber can install a water softener to address these issues.
Water Heater Repair
Most homeowners know plumbing repairs aren’t cheap, but the actual cost of a plumbing job depends on many factors. These include permitting, inspections and materials. Most plumbers will factor these invisible costs into the final price of a project.
Shreveport has hard water, which is good for our teeth and great for our clothes but bad for plumbing. Hard water makes it harder for the anode in your water heater to last and causes sediment to build up in the tank and pipes. Our plumbers can help you flush and clean your water heater to extend its life and reduce the risk of leaks or failure.
Household plumbing has to deal with a lot of wear and tear, especially in big households. Regular maintenance and inspections are key to catching problems before they become costly or dangerous. When you need a plumber, always vet them thoroughly and check their credentials. Look for a licensed contractor with years of industry experience and solid customer reviews.
Gas Leak Repair
If you suspect a gas leak, the first thing to do is get everyone out of the house and away from any electrical devices. Then call your gas company or the fire department to come shut off the gas line at the meter. This will stop the flow of gas into your home and prevent any further damage from the leaking gas.
Leaking gas lines are often caused by natural wear and tear on pipes over time. This happens when the soil around pipes shifts, which causes a break in the piping that can allow gas to escape into the air. Leaks can also occur due to clogs, mineral buildup, or physical damage to pipes.
A professional plumber will be able to detect and repair a gas leak quickly and efficiently. This is especially important because the dangerous effects of a gas leak can be extremely harmful, including asphyxiation and fires. Most plumbing work requires a permit and inspections to ensure the work is done correctly and safely. This is an additional cost to consider when budgeting for plumbing repairs and installations.