HEATING COOLING WILD WEST HELPFUL TIPS FROM TROY aka THE WRENCH WRANGLER Howdy Everyone, Troy here with Wild West Plumbing Heating & Cooling. Your plumbing system can get stubborn at any time, and as a homeowner, it is crucial to know how to handle these situations. Plumbing issues can range from minor inconveniences to major emergencies, and having the right information's at your fingertips can make all the difference. Here in this article, I'm going to provide comprehensive answers to some of the most common plumbing questions to help you navigate various situations when your plumbing system decides to go sideways. From preventing water damage to understanding when to call a pro, Wild West will always be here to help. This week's topic: Water Damage. The most common homeowner's insurance claim is water damage. I've been servicing literally thousands of homes around the flathead valley for the last 25 years and oh boy have I seen some "Doozies". Water damage is a homeowner's nightmare, often leading to very costly repairs. The best way to prevent water damage is to regularly inspect your plumbing for leaks, corrosion, and other signs of wear. This includes checking your pipes, faucets, fixtures, water heater, etc. Regular maintenance is also recommended which would include flushing water heater once a year and making sure all your emergency shutoffs are working properly. Other tips for water damage preventions would be to inspect laundry hoses and connections. Rubber laundry hoses should be replaced with stainless steel braided as they can rupture any time. Check dishwasher connections for corrosion. Exercise and test shutoff valves on a regular basis or else they will seize up and not work properly. Check to make sure your water lines are freeze protected by insulating house properly, proper pipe insulation, making sure heat tape is working properly. Check ground water sump pumps and sewer basin pumps to make sure they are working properly. With modern technology, there are options for whole house water leak prevention. I would recommend an automatic whole house shut off valve, which is a device that detects leaks and shuts off the main water supply which can prevents extensive damage. In conjunction with automatic shut offs, are smart leak detectors and moisture sensors. I like to see the sensors placed near wash machines, water heaters, sinks, basements, and crawl spaces. Water Cop and Moen Flo are some great automatic shutoffs to choose from; they can alert via home security system or smartphone. Automatic shutoffs will also show you what pressure your water is currently at. I recommend 40-60 Psi water pressure in the house, anything higher than 60 psi can cause your plumbing system to rupture! If Pressure is too high, a pressure regulator would need to be installed before the monitoring automatic shutoff valve. Always remember a drip today can be a flood tomorrow. If you're unsure what to do, call Wild West before minor issues become major headaches. Regards, Troy Hamland | Master Plumber 406-752-1244 KALISPELL WILDWESTPLUMBING.COM HEATING COOLING WILD WEST HELPFUL TIPS FROM TROY aka THE WRENCH WRANGLER Howdy Everyone , Troy here with Wild West Plumbing Heating & Cooling . Your plumbing system can get stubborn at any time , and as a homeowner , it is crucial to know how to handle these situations . Plumbing issues can range from minor inconveniences to major emergencies , and having the right information's at your fingertips can make all the difference . Here in this article , I'm going to provide comprehensive answers to some of the most common plumbing questions to help you navigate various situations when your plumbing system decides to go sideways . From preventing water damage to understanding when to call a pro , Wild West will always be here to help . This week's topic : Water Damage . The most common homeowner's insurance claim is water damage . I've been servicing literally thousands of homes around the flathead valley for the last 25 years and oh boy have I seen some " Doozies " . Water damage is a homeowner's nightmare , often leading to very costly repairs . The best way to prevent water damage is to regularly inspect your plumbing for leaks , corrosion , and other signs of wear . This includes checking your pipes , faucets , fixtures , water heater , etc. Regular maintenance is also recommended which would include flushing water heater once a year and making sure all your emergency shutoffs are working properly . Other tips for water damage preventions would be to inspect laundry hoses and connections . Rubber laundry hoses should be replaced with stainless steel braided as they can rupture any time . Check dishwasher connections for corrosion . Exercise and test shutoff valves on a regular basis or else they will seize up and not work properly . Check to make sure your water lines are freeze protected by insulating house properly , proper pipe insulation , making sure heat tape is working properly . Check ground water sump pumps and sewer basin pumps to make sure they are working properly . With modern technology , there are options for whole house water leak prevention . I would recommend an automatic whole house shut off valve , which is a device that detects leaks and shuts off the main water supply which can prevents extensive damage . In conjunction with automatic shut offs , are smart leak detectors and moisture sensors . I like to see the sensors placed near wash machines , water heaters , sinks , basements , and crawl spaces . Water Cop and Moen Flo are some great automatic shutoffs to choose from ; they can alert via home security system or smartphone . Automatic shutoffs will also show you what pressure your water is currently at . I recommend 40-60 Psi water pressure in the house , anything higher than 60 psi can cause your plumbing system to rupture ! If Pressure is too high , a pressure regulator would need to be installed before the monitoring automatic shutoff valve . Always remember a drip today can be a flood tomorrow . If you're unsure what to do , call Wild West before minor issues become major headaches . Regards , Troy Hamland | Master Plumber 406-752-1244 KALISPELL WILDWESTPLUMBING.COM