Alright, I’ll admit right away water pipes are not exactly the most glamorous aspect of a home. In fact, water piping in most homes is more than adequate to keep you in hot showers while you live there and take care of all your water needs. If there is a problem with the interior water pipes, however, you are in for a very costly and disruptive experience.
The main issue with water pipes on the interior of a home is their location. It is easy to forget about them because they are primarily hidden behind the walls of the house. While this is good from a visual perspective, it quickly becomes a negative if a pipe starts leaking or, god forbid, actually bursts inside a wall. Leaks lead to rot and mold problems that can effect the health of you family. A burst pipe leads to flooding, new carpets, rebuilt walls and large bills.
When evaluating the water pipes in a home, keep in mind the following issues.
1. Copper – The best piping material for water pipes is copper. It will last forever and is resistant to hard deposit build ups which can impact the amount of water flowing through the pipes. Copper pipes are also the sign of a quality construction effort as they tend to be more expensive than alternatives.
2. PVC – If you see PVC water pipes anywhere other than on the sprinkler system or from the main street line to the house, red flags should wave before your eyes. The presence of PVC piping is an indication of an owner doing the piping themselves, as most construction companies will not use PVC. In a majority of locations, such use of PVC is outright illegal. Do not buy a home with PVC piping in the walls! Ever!
3. Iron Piping – For a long time, iron piping was pretty much the standard in home construction. There is nothing particularly wrong with using such piping with one exception. Iron piping is susceptible to water and will rust over time. If you find this grey, metal piping in the home, find out when it was put in and check for rust. Iron piping should last roughly 30 years without any major problems. If replacements must be made, go with copper.
The pipes moving water around the interior of a home may seem uninteresting. Your attitude, however, will change if one of them bursts in the middle of the night.
In Home Water Filtration
The odd weather patterns of recent years have wreaked havoc on our planet. This havoc has come in the form of tornados, tsunamis, earthquakes, and hurricanes. Great floods have occurred as a result of these natural disasters. The raging waters escaping from the ocean, rising rivers, and creek beds have flooded countless thousands of homes leaving the families who lived in the homes devastated by the flood waters that got into and damaged or destroyed all they have. The sad thing is that even with the most attentive home owners, there is not a thing that can be done to protect your self from these kinds of disasters. Even the families who were covered by insurance often found out too late that their particular policies would not cover their flooded homes.
Some people who have their homes flooded come out luckier than others. That is, if any type of flooding can be called lucky. They might actually have a home that is salvageable enough to go back to.
Where does a person begin? First you must assess the damage. Never try to regain access to your home until it is allowed. Danger is everywhere in a flooded area and you can not accurately assess damage until the waters have receded away.
Wear protective clothing and a mask when you reenter your home. Do not go alone if at all possible just in case there is a problem or you get injured. Turn off the breakers in the house even if there is no power restored yet. Call and request that your homeowner's insurance agent meet you at the house. The sooner you contact them the better. If you are covered by your policy, hiring someone to help with the cleanup and repairs will be easier to accomplish. If you find you are not covered, the Red Cross might be able to assist you. They can also look into finding out what sort of help from any other sources might be available. You need to be willing to take all the help you can get.
Mold and damaged floors and walls are some of the most dangerous hazards in flooded homes so you must be very careful. Determine which items can be saved and which ones can not. Remove salvageable items first and try to store them somewhere safe, upstairs in your home is good if possible. Begin removing all items that are not attached that have been destroyed. Remember flood waters are filled with contaminates like sewage, chemicals and many things that are hazardous to your health. if it is really "nasty", throw it away. When this is done you have to get started on the hard stuff. Removing carpeting, damaged sheetrock and wood is next. Some places that are not damaged might still have mold and must be cleaned thoroughly.
Have your home inspected by a qualified professional before moving back in. The effects of major flooding are truly devastating and should be dealt with as quickly as possible. If you have never been affected by a natural disaster such as flooding pray that you never will have to face trying to save what is left of your home.
Both Raynor James & Richard Barthallo are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Raynor James has sinced written about articles on various topics from Real Estate, Business and Finance and Debts Loans. Raynor James is with FSBO America - homes .. Raynor James's top article generates over 90500 views. to your Favourites.
Richard Barthallo has sinced written about articles on various topics from Home, Health and Home. Richard Barthallo's life experiences has made him a legend with s. He has assisted and advised on many. Richard Barthallo's top article generates over 9900 views. to your Favourites.
