Perhaps you’ve seen the first signs of soon-to-be disasters, but you haven’t recognised them or you deemed them insignificant. However, the first indicators of possible failures shouldn’t be just overlooked. More often than not, these minor issues lead to more serious problems and, eventually, a complete failure. Therefore, it’s of the utmost importance that you become prepared for emergencies, or, even better, prevent them altogether.
Heating and cooling system problems
Over the years, your cooling or heating system can break down due to an improper installation, outdated components or improper maintenance. If you notice water pooling around your cooling system, it’s possible that there’s a drain blockage that has caused the overflowing of the drain pan. You can solve this easily by using a long wire to clear any blockages or forcing a short blast of water into the pipe with a hose.
As for more serious issues, common indicators of possible problems are an unusual sound coming from the compressor unit, lack of cool air despite the fact that the system is running, chimney smoke caused by a combustion problem, odours, or complete failure of the system. Many of these issues are caused by minor problems that can be easily fixed as long as you act immediately. If you cannot detect the problem, it’s advisable that you contact a professional.
Water leaks
Even the smallest leaks can cause serious damage unless they are taken care of immediately. Not only can they lead to a failure of an appliance, but leaks are also a major source of water loss that has a negative impact on the environment and your savings. It’s important that you detect and stop the leak before it causes more damage.
Toilet leaks are quite common and often disregarded as unimportant and not urgent. However, considering that toilets account for approximately 27% of your water consumption in your household, any additional water loss is more than serious. To check whether there’s a leak, pour a bit of food dye into the tank before you go to bed. If there’s dye in the toilet in the morning, then you should repair the leaking toilet by changing the flush valve. Just remember to shut off water to toilet completely before tackling the problem, or get in touch with your local plumber.
As for leaking washing machine or dishwasher, you need to pinpoint the problem and fix it as soon as possible to prevent a complete failure of the appliance. Make sure to maintain and check your appliances regularly, and not to postpone repairs even if the problems seem insignificant.
Faulty wiring
Another among common household problems is faulty electrical wiring that can pose threat to your and your family’s safety. It goes without saying that such problems require your immediate attention. Common defects are often caused by worn-out or outdated systems, ungrounded electrical outlets, overload of the safety capacity of the circuit breaker, etc. When looking for indicators of possible problems, look for flickering, dimming or buzzing lights, frayed or chewed wiring, discoloration, smoke or burning odours. If you don’t have the skills in the field, it’s advisable that you contact an electrician to avoid any electrical shock or injuries.
Blocked drains
If you notice that the water isn’t going down a drain, you better act immediately, or you’ll have to deal with floods and smells. You need to troubleshoot the problem in order to prevent it from happening again. The most common reasons behind this issue are the accumulation of dirt, skin flakes or hair that reduces the water flow. To get rid of a blocked drain pipe, you should seek help from professionals who will resolve the issue quickly and efficiently. You can try to fix a blocked sink drain yourself, but in the case of more serious blockages, it’s better to leave it to the experts. In addition, to prevent this from happening in the first place, you should be more careful about what you’re flushing down the drains. Under no circumstances should you try flushing down insoluble items, such as hygiene products, wet wipes, hair, etc.
Recognising the indicators of possible problems is the best way to prevent them from happening. Don’t overlook even the smallest signs, and get down to business immediately.
