How Much Money Are You Losing to Faulty Home Plumbing?

Plumbing problems will quickly bring your life to a grinding halt and cause a tremendous amount of damage before you know it. Luckily, many of the most common plumbing issues can easily be fixed as long as you address them right away.

The True Cost of Leaky and Clogged Pipes

A minor leak or slow drain might not seem like a big deal, but those issues can result in some major damage later on. Slow leaks can waste hundreds of gallons of water per year and potentially let pathogens into your water supply.

Clogged pipes are dangerous as well because the excess pressure might eventually result in a completely burst pipe that dumps water into your home. This can cost you thousands in water damage remediation, pipe replacement, and of course replacing any damaged furniture. 

While plumbing repair costs range between $45 - $150 an hour, a pipe burst can cost between $400 - $1,500 for the pipe repair itself, plus an additional $1,000 - $2,000 dollars for the water damage remediation.

Signs of Plumbing Problems

One of the easiest ways to avoid major plumbing catastrophes is to keep an eye out for any early warning signs that you might have some minor issues. If there is a clog deeper in your sewage line, then you will probably notice that all of your sinks and showers tend to drain slowly. Leaks and clogs can also result in unpleasant smells throughout your home or out in your yard.

Fixing the Damage

As long as these issues are caught early on, they are usually very easy to fix. For a single slow drain, you might be able to take care of the issue with nothing more than an inexpensive auger. 



When multiple drains are clogged, however, you will need to call in a professional plumber. That type of clog usually requires special tools that can break apart debris that is deep in a sewage line. Your plumber will also be able to take care of slow leaks so that you don’t waste any more water.

Avoiding Future Issues

The most effective way to avoid plumbing issues is to make sure that you never flush or rinse away any debris that could potentially clog the system. That includes items such as personal hygiene products, animal fats, oil, and food scraps. You might also want to have a plumber thoroughly inspect your entire plumbing system at least once every year or two.

If you feel as if you are constantly dealing with leaks and clogs, then it might be time to consider replacing your pipes entirely. Switching over to modern pipes can be a major investment, but spending that money early on could save you quite a bit down the road.

Home Plumbing: How to Save Money on your Monthly Utility bills

Utility bills are a necessary evil. One of the most annoying utility bills is most likely your water. In fact, your water bill is probably higher if you have multiple people living in your household. 

So how do you save money on your water bill each month? If you are looking for ways to save money on your home's water bill, you may be searching for methods that will not impact your use of water. 

After all, you may not want to rush through bathing to take a two minute shower or skimp on hygiene functions like washing your hands. The reality is that you need water in the home, but you may not want to pay a fortune for it. These tips will help you to curb your usage of water without impacting how you use it. 

Install Low-Flow Shower Heads

Low-flow shower heads and faucets are aerated. This means that they are designed to deliver a powerful stream of water to you without using so much water. Rather than relying solely on water pressure, they also rely on air pressure to create a forceful stream. 

This means that your experience using the water features is not impaired in any way, but you will use less water. Companies like HELP Plumbing, Heating, Cooling and Electric can help you to install new shower heads and faucets.

Update Your Toilets

Energy efficient toilets are still relatively a new thing over the last 10-15 years. If you live in a relatively old home, it would probably be smart to update your toilet. Today's toilets are designed to use significantly less water with each flush. 

Some have advanced technology that lets you decide if you need more or less water based on the type of waste that is in the toilet bowl. If you can’t update your toilet yet, you can at the very least adjust your water levels on your toilet to help you save on your water bill each month.

Invest in a Sprinkler System

A sprinkler system can help you to save money on your water bill as well. This is because these systems can be installed so that water is only distributed on the vegetation rather than falling on the driveway, street and other paved surfaces. 

It can also be placed evenly so that there is minimal water waste, and you can program the settings so water usage is fully controlled.

Invest in a Tankless Hot Water Heater

Tankless water heaters are becoming a thing now, especially if you are the kind of person that is looking for energy efficiency and looking to save on your water bills each month. 

You can also invest in a new hot water heater to save money on water consumption. Think about how much water you waste when you turn on the faucet to wash your hands with warm water or to take a shower. 

You may wait a minute or longer each time to draw hot water from the system. A tankless hot water heater heats water on demand immediately, and there are benefits associated with this.

As you can see, it is possible to save money on your water usage without changing how you use hot water and cold water. If you are interested in exploring new ways to save money on your water usage, consider working with a plumber to make some improvements to your home. 

You will also want to take a look at how you can decrease your water usage in order to save money on a month to month basis.