Every homeowner knows that sooner or later, they will need to deal with a plumbing issue. Pipes, fittings, and fixtures wear out, and clogs happen. But what most find far more upsetting is the thought of water damage in their homes. However, there are three simple tips from licensed plumbers that will help you avoid the stress and potentially massive cost of water damage repairs in your home.

Be Kind To Your Shut Off Valves

The shut-off valves throughout your home should be some of your best friends. These tiny devices could be all that stands between you and a flood of water from a damaged sink, or even worse, an overflow of sewage from a backed-up toilet. For your home’s toilets, follow the pipe that comes out of the wall or floor at the rear of the toilet. It will have a relatively small knob or hand crank on the line that will stop water flow into the toilet holding tank in case of an emergency. It is wise to take a moment every month or so to test this valve and make sure that the handle is easy to turn, just in case. Most can be lubricated with a small amount of oil to ensure that you can use it at a moment’s notice.

While it is also going to be very rare that you cannot shut off the faucet at your kitchen or bathroom sink, it can happen. Therefore, you should also be familiar with the water shut-off valve location under each sink in your home. There are small knobs much like the ones on the toilet fill line. Again, test them to make sure they are easy to turn in the event of a faucet that malfunctions or leaks. In addition, it is vital that you be able to access these valves in a timely manner. So avoid piling too much stuff under the sink that will impede your ability to shut off the water and avert water damage.

Have A Backup Plan

If you have an issue with your toilet and discover that the shut-off valve is not functional, you need to have a backup plan ready to avoid that nasty flood of sewage into your bathroom. Your second-best friend will be the rubber flapper inside the toilet holding tank. The flapper allows water to transfer from the tank to the toilet bowl. You can reach in, don’t worry the water in the tank is clean, and push the flapper down to create a seal at the bottom of the holding tank. Then no water can move into the clogged toilet and create water damage.

Eliminate Small Issues Immediately

If you notice that your toilet is slow to flush or appears to be slightly clogged, deal with the issue immediately. If you let that small clog grow, it could require the expertise of a licensed plumber to be cleared. Grab your handy plunger and remove the minor issue before it can create water damage.

Also, be sure that you have the right tool for the job. A toilet plunger has a flanged base that fits over the toilet drain to create a complete seal. The plungers with the flat bottom are designed to fit over a sink or tub drain and will not be as effective when used to remove a toilet clog.

For professional help eliminating tough clogs, or repairing leaking faucets or toilets, call Drain Surgeon. The licensed plumbers at Drain Surgeon are available 24/7 to handle any plumbing emergency. And all of our work is backed by a complete warranty and customer satisfaction guarantee.