Many homeowners are guilty of taking their plumbing for granted as long as it provides them with fresh water on demand while taking away wastewater as far away from their homes as possible. That’s until it starts acting up.
If you don’t want to experience the frustration of a problematic plumbing system, it’s advisable to take the necessary steps to properly maintain your plumbing system. In this article, you’ll learn some of the best practices to keep your home plumbing system in tip-top shape.
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Hire An Expert
Whether you don’t have the expertise to fix your plumbing system or simply don’t have the time to tinker with your pipes and water-using fixtures and appliances, it would be best to work with a plumbing company that can help like Dan’s Plumbing.
Hiring an expert to conduct a regular inspection of your plumbing system is crucial because it allows them to find and fix potential issues before they become a major headache.
In addition, professional plumbing maintenance and repair can make sure that your plumbing system works the way it should, preventing sneaky plumbing problems and helping save money in the long run.
Watch What You Flush
The toilet is for flushing down human waste, nothing else. And yet, many people are guilty of flushing down other things, including toilet paper, cotton swabs, sanitary products, hair, baby wipes, cotton balls, dental floss, and just about any small waste in the bathroom.
Flushable as these wastes may be, the toilet is not the proper place to dispose of them. After all, your flush toilet is not for trash disposal. So, stop flushing anything other than body waste or face the disgusting consequence of serious clogging and overflows.
Do Not Forget The Drains
In addition to the toilet, many homeowners tend to use their drains, particularly kitchen sinks, as trash cans. If you want to prevent slow drains and problematic clogs, you should never let anything other than wastewater go down your drain—whether it’s your bathtub drain, shower drain, or kitchen or bathroom sink drain. Consider using a drain or mesh screen to capture food waste, hair, and other debris from going down the drain.
It’s important to remember that you should never dispose of oil or grease in your kitchen sink. Although it’s somewhat liquid, grease and oil can build up on your drain over time. Also, when cold water runs through the pipes, oil and grease turn solid and trap other food debris, clogging your pipes completely.
Stop Using Chemical Drain Cleaners
If clogs occur, many homeowners typically turn to chemical drain cleaners to resolve them immediately. Admittedly, these products are a convenient, effective, and inexpensive solution to minor clogs.
However, they can damage your sink and corrode your pipes if used regularly. Most drain cleaners contain harsh, caustic chemicals that eat away at your plumbing material. Not only that, but the fumes from these drain cleaners are dangerous to people.
So, instead of using chemical drain cleaners to clear the clogs, you can use a drain snake or plunger to dislodge them. Alternatively, you can use a homemade drain cleaner by mixing baking soda and vinegar to dissolve and clear debris buildup on your drain.
Fix Leaks Immediately
A leaky faucet is a common plumbing issue in most homes. Leaks may seem more harmless than clogs, but if not fixed immediately, they can cause serious water damage that can be costly to repair.
Did you know that a leaky faucet dripping water at the rate of one drip per second can waste up to seven gallons of water per day? Meanwhile, a running toilet can waste up to 30 gallons of water a day. Plumbing leaks are not only costly, but they can also be a sign that there’s something wrong with your plumbing system, for instance, a corroded pipe or worn-out fixtures and joints.
In particular, hidden leaks are the most problematic since they can cause serious issues such as mold and mildew, as well as water damage to your home’s structures.
Thus, don’t ignore any visible leaks, even minor ones. As mentioned previously, it’s advisable to conduct regular plumbing inspections so that hidden leaks can be repaired immediately, helping you avoid costly damage.
Takeaway
You rely on your plumbing system every single day. So, take the time to maintain and care for your pipes. Following the above advice and other basic plumbing care tips can go a long way towards protecting your plumbing system from clogs and leaks, ultimately prolonging its lifespan to continue serving you for years to come.
