Most people don’t think about their plumbing system. It’s hidden and it has always been there, providing you fresh water on demand and taking away wastewater from your home. But when it gradually shows signs of issues and suddenly stops working, it’s certainly no fun to deal with. It’s unsightly, dirty, and comes with all the icky stuff you never want to touch.
Thus, to prevent experiencing frustrating issues, you must know how to properly care for and maintain your home’s plumbing system. Here are the basic plumbing maintenance tips you should know:
1. Schedule Regular Inspection And Maintenance
As mentioned before, people don’t think much about their plumbing system. Whether the fact that it’s always been there or you’re just busy with your life, most people tend to forget even the most common household chores. That said, it’s important to set aside a regular inspection and maintenance schedule for your home’s plumbing.
With regular inspection and maintenance, you can find and resolve small and developing issues before they become a major problem. It also helps ensure that your plumbing system works the way it should and potentially saves you money in the long run.
Your inspection will primarily focus on your bathrooms, kitchen, and laundry room since they’re the areas that extensively use your home’s plumbing system. Don’t forget to check appliances using your plumbing systems such as washing machines or water heaters as well as outside fixtures. If you see any signs of damage or issues, no matter how small, you should fix them as soon as possible.
Now, if you don’t have the time, don’t know what to inspect, or are just uncomfortable working on your plumbing system, you can always hire a professional plumber such as Dan’s Plumbing and others to do this instead. They can provide regular inspection and maintenance services, spotting the smallest issues in your plumbing system and fixing them accordingly. Dan’s Plumbing have a decent rating in Trustpilot and provides quality workmanship, servicing Sydney and Wollongong areas in Australia.
2. Stop Flushing Everything
Some things are just meant to be flushed while most things shouldn’t even go down your toilet. You’ve probably read and heard it many times before, but we’ll say it again: never flush toilet papers, cotton balls, baby wipes, hygiene products, hair, and just about everything you think you can flush down the toilet.
Remember, your toilet isn’t your bathroom’s trash can nor a bathroom version of your kitchen’s garbage disposal. It’s meant to flush down bodily waste only. So, watch what you flush or face the consequence of dealing with serious clogging that’s just disgusting and unsightly.
3. Don’t Ignore Leaks
The steady sound of dripping is common in most homes. While this dripping sound may be less annoying than clogs, and some may even find it relaxing to hear, it actually represents your hard-earned money going down the drain.
Even the smallest leak can waste a lot of water, increasing your bills over time. In fact, faucet leaks can waste over 180 gallons of water a week. Running toilets are the worst, wasting over 200 gallons of water every single day.
Not only will it increase your water bill, but a water leak can also be a sign of a more serious plumbing issue. It may be caused by a corroded pipe or worn-out joints and fixtures. Furthermore, some leaks may be out in plain sight, causing serious issues such as mildew and mold. If left unattended, it may even cause serious water damage in an instant.
So, don’t ignore any visible leaks, regardless of how minor. Also, with regular inspection being proactive in your maintenance schedule, you can find hidden leaks and resolve them immediately before they become a costly and big headache.
4. Take Care Of Your Drain
Similar to the toilet, most people use drains as their nearest trash can. Whether it’s your shower drain or your kitchen sink drain, you should never let anything other than wastewater go down the drain. In general, your drain should have a collector, cap, or catcher, whatever you call it, to capture hair, food debris, and anything other than water.
That said, you should never pour grease or oil down the drain. You may think that since it’s somewhat liquid, it’s totally fine to pour down the sink. That said, soil and grease will build up over time. They also turn to solid when cold water runs through the pipes, trapping other debris and causing clogging on your pipe over time.
Thus, never throw away any solid debris and even burnt oils down the drain. Make sure to dispose of them properly.
Takeaway
Your home’s plumbing system may be a complex one. But as you can see, it’s not that difficult to take care of. By following the above tips and best practices, you can avoid common plumbing issues such as leaks, clogs, and damaged pipes while extending the lifespan of your plumbing system.