One of the most frustrating aspects of being a homeowner involves the small maintenance issues that seem inconsequential at first but soon become a growing source of irritation or inconvenience. Two of the most common of these are issues with the drains in the home and an insufficient supply of hot water. Since both of these annoying issues may be caused, in part, by a lack of preventative maintenance or misuse, homeowners may want to consider outsourcing their care to a professional to avoid further frustration.
Slow or clogged drains
Ignoring the signs of a potential clog can result in more serious problems, including overflowing toilets and backups of raw sewage in the home. In many instances, the first signs of a potential clog will often involve experiencing slow drains in the kitchen or bath or the need to flush more than once in order to clear the toilet bowl. When a slowing drain is noticed, homeowners are likely already facing hidden issues with grease buildup or a growing mass of solid waste inside the home's drain pipes. Scheduling a service call to clear away clogs of this type is the fastest way to restore full drain function and prevent further or more serious drain problems.
Insufficient hot water
In homes where the size of the hot water tank is sufficient for the number of occupants, insufficient levels of hot water are often related to a lack of routine maintenance, especially in areas of the country where the water supply has high mineral content. The heating elements inside the average hot water tank can quickly become coated with minerals from water with high mineral content, often called hard water. Over time, the excess minerals build up inside the tank as layers of sediment that may completely encase the heating element or limit the amount of space available for the storage of hot water. If the excess minerals inside the tank are not removed regularly, homeowners may find themselves dealing with insufficient amounts of hot water or having to frequently replace heating elements. In order to clean a hot water tank, the tank must first be drained of excess water before the mineral buildup is removed. Once the water is removed, the heating elements and anode tube are evaluated to ensure they are still functioning properly before the tank is resealed and refilled with water.
Homeowners who have questions about maintaining their drains or hot water tanks can get the assistance they need by contacting a reputable contractor who specializes in drain cleaning and hot water tank maintenance and repair.
For more information, contact a hot water tank service near you.