Do you know how to maintain your home plumbing? A few simple steps can save you enormous amounts of time and money. Here are five tips you need to know.
Owning a home is a lot of responsibility, and you need to make sure that you keep up with it. Unfortunately, if you don’t, you could end up in trouble.
An untended home can make you sick and cost you enormous amounts of money. While your usual maintenance does cost a little bit of time and money, it’s worth it in the end because you save a lot more than you ever spend.
Wondering what it takes to keep your home plumbing in top shape? Here are five plumbing tips that will help you keep everything flowing smoothly.
Manage Your Drains
Your drains take wastewater, sewage, and odors away from your home. If you don’t maintain them, though, they will send all of that material into your home.
The best way to keep your drains in order is to work with plumbers in Richmond Hill to have an annual plumbing inspection. They can see what problems are starting to form and take care of it before it becomes a big deal.
If you notice slow drains, you probably have a clog that needs attention. You can prevent clogs with mesh drain covers, but once you have one you’ll need to treat it right away. Otherwise, it can build up and cause blockages, cracks, and leaks.
Check For Leaks
Leaks can come in a drip or in a pour, and both are dangerous. In fact, drips go unnoticed longer, which can cause even more damage than an obvious crack in a pipe.
How can you tell if you have a leak? You may be able to hear it, even behind a wall. You can also notice dark spots on the walls or ceilings near where a leak is happening. If you notice mould or odour, that’s another sign.
To find and repair leaks quickly, check for water, rust, and mould near plumbing fixtures regularly. Look under the sinks, in the basement, and near the water heater. If you notice anything, contact a plumber to fix the issue right away.
Be careful when drilling holes or using nails in your walls – it’s vital to make sure you don’t puncture any pipes in the process.
Be Careful About Flushing
Your toilet should be used only for human waste and toilet paper. Never use your toilet to dispose of any other waste. People are sometimes tempted to flush hair, sanitary products, paper towels, or a variety of other types of trash down the toilet.
If you do that, you’ll risk clogging the toilet and causing serious problems with your sewage system. Even “flushable wipes” that are advertised as being toilet safe can cause backups in your system.
Take Care of Your Water Heater
Your water heater does a lot to keep things comfortable in your home. Without hot water, you don’t have warm showers, clean clothes, or shiny dishes. However, if your water heater is not properly maintained, it can cause significant damage to your house as well.
Wonder how to take care of a water heater? You should have it inspected and maintained annually during your plumbing checkup. However, there are things to do yourself as well.
First, lower the temperature a bit. If you keep it near 49°C, you’ll save a lot of money on energy costs. Plus, you’ll lower the chance of scalding yourself when using hot water.
Secondly, work to remove sediment a few times a year. You can do this by draining about 25% of the tank into a bucket – until the water runs clear. This will not only help keep things clean and extend the life of your water heater, it will help the unit run more quietly.
Finally, check the anode rod every few years. You need to replace the rod if it’s less than 8cm long, coated with calcium, or has more than 15cm of core steel wire exposed.
Be Careful If You DIY
Some minor repairs can be easy to handle on your own. However, there are mistakes you can make as well. To avoid damaging your plumbing more than you help it, follow these tips.
Avoid overtightening the joints when you install plumbing in your home. This can result in broken bolts and stripped screws. Just stick with hand-tightening with the help of some plumbing tape.
Remember to shut off all water lines before you begin a project. It seems obvious but you’d be surprised how many homeowners forget to do it. You’ll end up with a huge mess!
Finally, be sure that you match up your piping if you make any replacements. There are a wide variety of materials for pipes, and sizes can vary too. Don’t just “make it work” with tape or silicone. You’ll end up with leaks and failed pipes that cause enormous problems.
If you have any doubt about your project, call in a professional plumber. It pays to have things done correctly!
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