4 Top Reasons for Plumbing System Failure

P: Pressure as in High or Low water pressure

Low water pressure can cause lack of optimal performance in appliances such as washing machines, dishwasher and the most obvious issue being lack of water pressure in the shower/tub. Low water pressure can reduce the comfort of your lifestyle and be very frustrating when trying to take a shower under a trickle of water. Some municipalities have very low water pressure, and we have several here in Charleston, S.C… Low water pressure is typically more frustrating than harmful as opposed to high water pressure.

But first – what’s the harm in using a chemical drain cleaner?

Not only can these chemicals burn your eyes and skin and cause permanent damage, the harsh chemicals in drain cleaners can also wear away at your pipes.  For these reasons, it is much better to remove the clog naturally.

High water pressure, although very comforting when taking a nice hot shower, can be very damaging to the fixtures in your home, increasing the number of repairs that are needed and decreasing the life of the faucets and fixtures in your home. Most faucets and fixtures recommend a maximum pressure of 75-80 PSI and when the pressure is higher than this it may cause leaks. We also analyze water pressure in the late-night hours and times of day when not many people are using water in their homes which can create a 10-15 PSI spike in pressure in everyone’s home in any specific area without proper regulation. It is often that we get called out for a leaky faucet and find high water pressure to the home and we can install a proper pressure regulating valve which will resolve the issue although we still put new parts in the faucet.

Fix for low water pressure

Booster pump installation at incoming water source which also requires an electrical connection.

Fix for high water pressure

Installation of a pressure regulating valve to maintain pressure at a safe working zone of 75 PSI. Both the booster pump and the pressure regulating valve need to be monitored annually, which is a free service provided to our Lifetime Protection Members with their free annual inspection.

L: Lack of Maintenance is the Next Reason for Failure in a Plumbing System

There are check-ups needed for your plumbing system just like any other mechanical thing that we own. Water heaters need to be flushed of calcium build-up, faucets and fixtures need to operate regularly or they will seize, and this mainly includes things that are built for servicing that never get used such as emergency shut off valves for the whole home or isolation valves for individual faucets and fixtures. Pressure which was spoken about already but also needs to be checked annually to ensure that the municipality has not increased pressures in the area in the case of large developments being added or for other reasons. Performing actions that the average homeowner does not think about like crawling under the home to check for damaged strapping to pipes, possible corrosion on older piping or even leakage occurring and causing damage to the home. Education on your plumbing system is typically not something people worry about, so in our day-to-day service that is what we provide. Education about your specific plumbing system and things that need to be maintained or checked on a regular basis whether you pay us to do it for you or DIY.

A: Age / Corrosion, Just like with Anything Else Such as Our Bodies and Our Vehicles, This Also Affects Our Plumbing Systems

With our bodies aging can be helped with things such as exercise, healthy eating habits etc… Our plumbing systems need the same things such as flushing, operation of moving parts and water quality checks to ensure there are no chemicals in your water damaging not only your plumbing system but also your personal health. Without proper care our plumbing systems will break down just like anything else, creating huge unnecessary expenses or damage to your home.

C: Clogs Caused by Things Like Grease That We Unknowingly Put Down Our Drains With Daily Routines

Most of us clean our plates off in the trash can and then rinse in the sink before washing with a dishwasher or handwashing. This simple act creates a greasy build-up over time that needs to be cleaned by hydro-jetting or pressure washing the inside of lines to remove grease, hair and debris from those lines. Think of these lines like arteries and without proper exercise, healthy eating and things of that nature they eventually need to be cleaned. This is a much faster process with a plumbing system than our bodies and requires maintenance to prevent unnecessary expensive repairs. Improper strapping or damaged strapping can also be a source of clogs. Simply from a contractor going in your crawlspace and unknowingly breaking or loosening a strap on a pipe as this piping only needs a maximum of a ¼ inch of grade. So just a small adjustment or change is required to cause an issue.