When your home has a plumbing problem, you are probably most concerned about the inconvenience it will cause you and your family. However, you should also be concerned about how the plumbing issue may impact your health. Believe it or not, what may seem like minor plumbing problems can have a big impact on how good or bad you and your family will feel. To get a better understanding of just how your home's plumbing can affect your health, here are some things to keep in mind.

Harmful Bacteria and Organisms

Should your home experience a sewage backup, this will immediately put everyone at risk of coming into contact with harmful bacteria and organisms. If contaminated water is released from showerheads, faucets, and other fixtures and comes in contact with you or others, the result could be dysentery, dehydration, vomiting, or perhaps gastroenteritis.

Mold and Mildew

If you have leaking pipes and drains in your home, some of which may be hard to detect if they are located in walls or ceilings, the moisture that builds up can set the stage for mold and mildew growth. Should this happen, your family and even your pets may begin experiencing trouble breathing, watery eyes, sneezing and coughing, and even body aches and headaches. If you suffer from asthma or allergies, these will be worsened by plumbing problems.

Clogged Drains

When you drains are clogged, you need to schedule drain cleaning services right away to ward off potential illnesses. Clogged drains are great breeding grounds for bacteria, fungi, and plenty of other germs that love to spread all types of diseases, including peptic ulcers, legionella, and even typhoid. Since clogged drains often release very unpleasant smells, the stench can also cause you to experience headaches, dizziness, fatigue, and nausea.

Corroded Water Heater

Finally, if you have an older water heater that is showing signs of rust or corrosion, it is a good idea to get it replaced as soon as possible. Not only is this due to its age, but also to the fact that the corrosion building up on the heater's elements can ultimately travel through your pipes and get into your drinking water. If this happens, you could potentially find yourself dealing with a bout of rust poisoning.

Since there are so many potentially serious health problems that can be brought about or made worse by poor plumbing, it stands to reason that it's best to address plumbing issues right away. By doing so, you can have peace of mind with both your plumbing and your health.