Month: November 2023

10 Tips For Maintaining Your Plumbing System

One of the most important aspects of owning a home is keeping up with regular maintenance. That includes ensuring that your plumbing system is working as it should and there are no areas that could cause issues.

The plumbing system that snakes throughout a home is complex and involves many different piping systems and appliances. Although we rely on modern plumbing systems for bathing, cooking, laundry, and other daily activities, most of us rarely think about maintenance until a problem develops.

Why Plumbing Maintenance Is Important

Most plumbing systems and fixtures will last a long time with proper use and maintenance. Regular maintenance is always cheaper than dealing with plumbing emergencies and the damage caused by them. Luckily, it’s not too difficult to take care of your plumbing and avoid most common problems, including leaks, clogs, and broken pipes.

You can reduce the need for expensive plumbing repairs by following these ten tips:

1. Check for Leaks

Get in the habit of regularly checking for leaks around your home. Even small leaks waste a lot of water and increase water bills.

A leaky faucet wastes up to eight gallons of water each day. A running toilet can waste up to 200 gallons of water per day. Garbage disposals, refrigerators, dishwashers, water heaters and washing machines are all potential sources of small leaks that can lead to costly damage and big repair bills.

Low water pressure or a sudden increase in water usage are signs of hidden leaks. If you suspect you have a leak somewhere in your home but can’t locate it, call a plumber. Undetected leaks can cause structural damage and attract pests, including termites and carpenter ants.

2. Clear Slow Moving Drains

A slow sink drain is usually caused by a combination of soap scum and hair accumulating on the drain walls. Before a drain becomes completely blocked, there are several inexpensive ways to get drains moving properly.

Removing and cleaning the stopper may be enough to fix the problem. Using a simple mixture of baking soda and vinegar is an inexpensive and often very effective way to clear sluggish drains. If these remedies don’t work, there is likely a blockage deeper in the drain that needs to be located and removed by a professional plumber.

3. Watch What Goes Down Your Drains

Drains in homes are narrow and it is easy for them to become clogged if not properly maintained. Everyday objects including hair, soap, food particles, and grease can easily clog kitchen and bathroom drains. The wrong kind of toilet paper (or too much toilet paper) can clog older pipes. Using inexpensive mesh drain covers in sink and bathtub drains keeps hair and other objects from clogging drains.

4. Don’t Use Your Toilet Like a Trash Can

Toilets and plumbing pipes are designed to handle human waste and toilet paper. Flushing anything else (even products labeled flushable) can cause clogs and damage pipes.

Even flushing items similar to toilet paper, such as facial tissue and paper towels, can create tough clogs as they are not designed to break down easily when they make contact with water. Feminine hygiene products, diapers, wipes, and any other items should be disposed of in a trash can.

5. Avoid Chemical Drain Cleaners

It’s tempting to turn to a chemical drain cleaner when you have a slow-moving drain or clog. These products may provide temporary relief but they rarely completely clear a clog. That means that you have to keep using them to keep the drain clear. In addition, most drain cleaners contain caustic chemicals that are dangerous to both people and pipes.

If there’s a clog in one of your drains, use a plunger or drain snake to dislodge it. If you can’t clear it on your own, call a professional plumber to remove the clog without damaging your pipes.

6. Don’t All Garbage in Your Garbage Disposal

Despite the name, there are many things that should never be placed down a garbage disposal. Grease and oils should never be put down any drain or garbage disposal. Pasta, rice, fibrous or starchy vegetables, eggshells, and coffee grounds are other items that should not be placed in garbage disposals.

Garbage …