Plumbing 101

The Importance Of Understanding And Protecting Your Plumbing

Repairing plumbing can be messy and costly, but it doesn’t have to happen in your home. If you take the proper precautions, you can maintain your plumbing properly and avoid some of those needs for repair. Use these tips to understand and protect your plumbing systems in the proper manner.

Tip 1: Prevent Blocks In The Pipes

You don’t want your pipes to get backed up and blocked for any reason. If you see water flow slowing down, you might be able to see a problem coming. In order to prevent blocks, make sure every faucet has an aerator on it and clean those out regularly. Also, have rules about what can and cannot go down the drains.

Tip 2: Don’t Flush Anything (Other Than Toilet Paper)

The toilet is meant for toilet paper and that’s that. Foreign objects of any kind can create unwanted clogs, damage the pipe systems, and possibly septic tanks. You don’t even want to flush things that seem okay, like facial tissues, paper towels, and baby wipes. Even those things can back the sewer system up.

Tip 3: Change Water Softener Filters

If you have a water softener, you will want to change and clean the filters based on the manufacturer’s instructions. This will help the water flow through easier and keep things from getting backed up elsewhere.

Tip 4: Use The Garbage Disposal Sparingly

The garbage disposal is there so you can use it, right? Well, yes, but you will want to use it as little as possible. Don’t cut large foods into it or scrape leftovers down the sink when you can use a nearby garbage instead. Sure, food is going to fall into the sink and you can use it then, but prevent backups by not using it for absolutely everything.

Tip 5: Drain The Water Heater Every Year

The water heater will have a sediment build up in the bottom of it from minerals that come from your water. That small amount of sediment can cause the tank issues over time and you will find that it doesn’t work nearly as well.

Tip 6: Get Leaks Fixed

Small leaks don’t seem like a big deal, but if you really want to maintain your plumbing system, you need to pay attention to even the smallest drips. Small drips can lead to big problems if they are ignored and you never know what they might be trying to indicate.

Tip 7: Have Frequent Plumbing Inspections

From time to time, every home should have its pipes and plumbing elements thoroughly inspected by a professional plumber. This can give you peace of mind that everything is where it should be, working as it should. It can also help you ensure that you are maintaining things properly so everything will run effectively and efficiently. It costs a little time and money but saves you a lot of time and money down the road. You can prevent the worst from happening by doing the best for your plumbing now.