Plumbing is a complex network of pipes that primarily delivers fresh water on demand while taking wastewater away from your home. And although these pipes are well-hidden in your walls and floors, you shouldn’t take them for granted. Head over to Inner City Plumbing if you’d like to know more about plumbing.
Preventive maintenance is critical if you don’t want to experience a nasty issue with your plumbing system. Whether you’re a new homeowner or want to take better care of your plumbing system, here’s a valuable plumbing maintenance checklist: https://www.lexsplumbing.com/
Schedule Professional Maintenance
Homeowners are encouraged to do regular inspections and maintenance of their plumbing system. However, you should also schedule more comprehensive care done by professionals.
Plumbing companies like Dan’s Plumbing have the necessary experience, tools, and equipment to thoroughly assess and maintain your plumbing system. They can check the integrity of your plumbing system and even check hidden pipes with specialized tools. These experts have an eye for finding even the most minor issues in your pipes and fixtures and resolving them immediately to prevent more significant problems that can create long-lasting damage in your home.
Take Care Of Your Toilet And Drains
Most people don’t think much about their toilets and drains until they stop working. Toilet and drain blockages are some of the most common plumbing issues homeowners face, mainly because of neglect.
Generally, most homeowners are guilty of using their toilets and drains as their second garbage can. Toilet papers, baby wipes, and cotton balls are often flushed through the toilet. Soap scraps, hair, and leftover food are usually disposed of through bathroom and kitchen drains.
While it may seem harmless, and your toilet and drains seem to work fine, blockages will form and cause a disgusting problem sooner or later. As such, you should start thinking before flushing or throwing anything on your drains.
Always keep a trash can nearby where you can throw items instead of throwing them down on your toilet and drains. To further protect your drains, you should install a drain catcher or covers that collect debris like hair and food scraps.
Stop Using Chemical Cleaners
Whether you’re facing a clog on your drains or want to keep them clean, you should avoid chemical cleaners. Although these store-bought chemicals can help you resolve the issue right away, they rarely clear a clog completely. Clogs will become more frequent, and you may use these harsh cleaners whenever you need to improve drainage.
In addition, chemical cleaners can damage your pipes. Most cleaners contain strong acids that can eat away at metal pipes, causing rusting and leaks within your pipes. Furthermore, chemical cleaners can also produce toxic fumes that can be harmful when inhaled. Plus, these cleaners can ultimately pollute waterways and kill aquatic life.
Instead of relying on chemical cleaners, you can try home remedies. For instance, the good old plunger can help dislodge minor blockages on your drain. You can also create your own drain cleaner with kitchen ingredients such as baking soda, vinegar, and water. If you have enough plumbing experience, you can try removing and cleaning most kitchen pipes.
Calibrate The Water Pressure
Monitoring water pressure should be on your list if you want to keep your plumbing system in tip-top shape. Typically, the water pressure in most residential plumbing systems is set to 40-50 pounds per square inch (PSI).
A water pressure higher than these numbers can strain your plumbing system. High water pressure can weaken pipe joints while increasing the risk of a pipe burst. Meanwhile, if you’re experiencing low water pressure, it may indicate a water leak somewhere in your plumbing system.
You can purchase and install a pressure gauge to help you test your home’s water pressure level. Also, you should invest in a pressure regulator to maintain the water pressure so it doesn’t go above or below the necessary levels.
Prepare For Winter
If you live in areas where temperatures can plunge to negative degrees, you must do preventive pipe care before winter sets in. Generally, you need to keep your plumbing pipes warm and prevent freezing, especially those running outdoors.
Insulating exposed pipes, as well as your Water Heater Repair, helps prevent damage from expansion from cold weather and ensures energy efficiency by keeping hot water warm. In addition, don’t forget to drain your outdoor taps and hoses of all water before winter to prevent them from freezing.
You can help prevent pipes from freezing indoors by running taps for a few seconds. Or you can also leave it slightly open, allowing a few drops every minute to keep your pipes active and prevent freezing. You should also consider opening cabinets to let warm air circulate through the area and keep your pipes warm.
Takeaway
Your home’s plumbing system may be complicated, but taking care of it shouldn’t be. With the essential tips and preventive care mentioned above, you can easily avoid common issues that plague most neglected plumbing systems. Lastly, with preventive plumbing maintenance, you can easily avoid gradual or sudden water damage to your home, saving you from unwanted costs and hassle in the long term.
