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Plumbing Leak? Check for Cracked Seals!

Plumbing leaks can catch you by surprise, causing flooding and extensive water damage. At first, you may assume that the leak is caused by a busted pipe, but that may not be the issue. Your home’s plumbing system is composed of much more than just pipes. There are many rubber components, hoses, and gaskets that can deteriorate over time, causing cracked seals to leak water and damage your home. There are simple steps you can take to keep your hoses and seals in proper condition.

Detecting Cracked and Dried Out Plumbing Seals

There are many rubber components that are vital to your plumbing systems and appliances. For example, the rubber hose connecting to your washing machine, the gaskets in your shower, the seals in your sinks, and much more. Rubber can dry out and deteriorate over time, resulting in leaks and requiring emergency repairs. Be sure to regularly check any of these plumbing seals for leaks. If you do notice cracked or dried seals, there are relatively simple to fix. In general, all you have to do is take the fixture apart and replace a new, properly sized replacement in its place. Not sure how to take the fixture apart? You can refer to the user’s manual, look up a solution online, or simply call your friends at ACE for assistance!

washing machine with plumbing seals

How to Avoid Leaks over Vacation

One mistake that many homeowners make is turning off the water supply to their home when they are on long vacations. Although this can prevent any major flooding from happening, it’s exposes to your plumbing system to drying out and cracking the rubber fixtures. To avoid this, hire a house-sitter to periodically check on your house, run the water, and make sure everything is in proper condition.

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What to Look for When Buying a Home

If you are looking to buy a home, you want to take into consideration how long the house has been empty and if the water has been shut off. This factor is directly correlated to the chance that hoses and gaskets in the house have dried out, making the plumbing system more prone to leaks and flooding. If you are considering a home that has been unoccupied for a period of time, ask the homeowner to turn the water supply back on and schedule a thorough inspection from a professional home services company, such as ACE Home Services!

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