Living in California, you’re no stranger to earthquakes. But the majority of the time, the aftermath involves little more than picking up a few knick knacks that fell off the shelf. Occasionally, you may encounter a stronger earthquake that can cause real damage to your property. Furniture can topple, drywall can crack, and foundations can suffer damage.
You likely don’t think about your plumbing much since it runs through the interior of your home where you can’t see it. Yet your plumbing is vulnerable during even a moderate earthquake. Pipes can crack, fasteners can loosen, and parts can break, causing water leaks that can create major damage in your home.
A little planning can help you protect your home in an earthquake. Here’s what you can do to safeguard your plumbing during an earthquake:
Get an Annual Inspection
Most people don’t call a plumber until they have water flooding their bathroom. But you should really have a plumber come to your home once a year for an inspection. During the inspection, the plumber will check out your system and look for any signs of aging or damage in the pipes, the fasteners, and other components.
An inspection will make you aware of any current problems or potential problems. For example, you might find out that your pipes are starting to show signs of wear and that you’ll need to consider re-piping soon. If you live in an earthquake-prone area like California, you might consider getting that work done sooner rather than later so as to avoid major damage during an earthquake.
Replace Aging Water Lines
When was your plumbing installed? If you know that your pipes are older, you might want to go ahead and have your home re-piped. Brittle, weakened, or otherwise compromised pipes are more likely to break loose from their fasteners or to burst during even a minor earthquake. By re-piping before the earthquake hits, you strengthen your plumbing system and minimize the risk of catastrophe.
Get Flexible Connections
The place where your plumbing is most likely to break is where the pipe is fastened to items like your sink, water heater, or even another pipe. Orange County Re-piping with flexible connections can give your plumbing some leeway in case of an earthquake. The pipes will have some room to move when everything starts shaking, instead of being forced to break off.
Brace Your Water Heater
Your water heater is likely to take a tumble even in a low-grade earthquake. And if your water heater hits the ground hard enough, it can crack or otherwise be broken. Replacing a water heater is no easy or inexpensive task.
Keep your water heater safe in an earthquake by bracing it against the wall with metal straps. Use the right bolts to go deep into the studs and to support the weight of the water heater and the potential force of an earthquake. If you aren’t sure how to do the job, hire a professional to help you.
Turn Off the Valves
Your Orange County plumbing includes valves that can shut the water off. Unfortunately, we aren’t able to predict an earthquake, so you won’t have any warning that one is coming so that you can shut off the water. But if an earthquake starts and you are safely able to do so, you should shut off those valves as quickly as you can. Then you can prevent further damage to your home in case there is damage to your plumbing.
It’s also worth turning off the valves if an earthquake has already passed. There can be aftershocks from the earthquake, so turning off the water is a defensive measure. Just turn it off during those times that you won’t need the water, such as when you are away at work or you are sleeping.
You may not be able to predict when an earthquake will hit, but you can certainly prepare for one. These tips will help you keep your Orange County plumbing a little safer when the ground starts shifting under your feet.
Integrity Repipe can inspect your California home to let you know if you need to consider re-piping, both for the health of your plumbing and as a proactive measure against potential earthquake damage. We specialize in Pex home re-piping near Orange County, which is a flexible, plastic piping that is more resistive to the effects of an earthquake. Pex also has a longer life span and is easier to install. Call us to have a plumber inspect your home and talk to you more about the benefits of home re-piping. You’ll quickly learn why we are a top plumbing company in California.
Published by – Integrity Repipe Inc
Integrity Repipe Inc – Mission Viejo, CA
27281 Las Ramblas, Suite 200
Mission Viejo, CA 92691
Phone: 877-473-7473
Website: integrityrepipe.com
Integrity Repipe Inc – San Clemente, CA
927 Calle Negocio Suite O
San Clemente, CA 92673
Phone: 949-397-2404
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Integrity Repipe Inc – Long Beach, CA
2201 N Lakewood Blvd, Ste D #297
Long Beach, CA 90815
Phone: 562-362-5040
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Integrity Repipe Inc – Chula Vista, CA
591 Telegraph Canyon Road
Chula Vista, CA 91910
Phone: 619-313-5744
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Integrity Repipe Inc – Ladera Ranch, CA
27762 Antonio Parkway L1
Ladera Ranch, CA 92694
Phone: 949-397-2795
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Integrity Repipe Inc – Lakeside, CA
8337 Winter Gardens Boulevard
Lakeside, CA 92040
Phone: 619-494-3507
Website: integrityrepipe.com/lakeside
Integrity Repipe Inc – Aliso Viejo, CA
27068 La Paz Rd #771
Aliso Viejo, CA 92656
Phone: 949-449-1142
Website: integrityrepiping.com/aliso-viejo-repipe-copper-pex-ca
Integrity Repipe Inc – Oceanside, CA
1759 Oceanside Blvd C,
Oceanside, CA 92054
Phone: 442-300-3057
Website: integrityrepiping.com/oceanside-repipe-copper-pex
Integrity Repipe Inc – Porter Ranch, CA
19360 Rinaldi
Porter Ranch, CA 91326
Phone: 818-630-9265
Website: integrityrepiping.com/porter-ranch/