No one likes having to deal with plumbing issues. The plumbing issues that you deal with are often hard on your pipes, your wallet, your life, and your sanity. Whether you are dealing with some flooding in your home or are trying to figure out why your faucet just won’t stop dripping, you need to make sure that you are staying on top of plumbing problems. Part of this is also staying on top of the circumstances that cause them, so in order to make sure that your plumbing is well maintained, you need to follow these tips.
An ounce of prevention is going to be worth a pound of cure, so don’t be afraid to take your time and make sure that you are getting out ahead of a lot of the plumbing problems that you have by taking the time to do some simple maintenance.
Watch What You Put In Your Drains
Make sure that you are treating your drains like drains, and not trash cans. While there is a massive temptation to simply pour everything down the drain and just allow the garbage disposal and your plumbing system to sort it all out, you should take the time to make sure that everything you are putting in your drain belongs there.
For example, don’t pour grease down the drain, or drop down solid items like bones or nonfood items. Those are going to wreak havoc on your garbage disposal and also ensure that your pipes are going to get clogged up. For these items, you just need to use the trash can.
If you aren’t sure if something or an amount of something should go down your drain, don’t be afraid to look it up, because your bad habits or misinformation can cause a lot of problems for your plumbing system!
Make Sure To Clear Leaks and Drains
Whether your faucet is dripping or you have found that a pipe in your kitchen is dripping water, don’t just ignore it and call it a day. Instead you need to ensure that you are treating the leaks respectfully and taking them on directly. So don’t be afraid to inspect the leaks and do a little DIY repair in order to make sure you handle them.
Especially if the leaks are occurring under the sinks, because pools of water can and will attract pests that will eventually move around the home and cause two problems. Rather than having to call both a pest control company and a plumber from Iron Mountain Plumbing, just take care of the leaks before they become a serious problem.
Additionally, keep an eye on your drains as well. If your sinks or toilets are slow to empty themselves and the drains aren’t draining as quickly as they should, you need to make sure that you are working on that and making sure that any clogs aren’t going to become a massive issue that wrecks how you use the drain.
So make sure to use physical means (such as plungers specifically made for the bathroom and the kitchen) or chemical means like soap and drain cleaners to ensure that your drains are 100% clean and flowing, before things start to back up! And if you can’t seem to remove the clog on your own, then you need to make sure that you are containing a plumber to fix the issue, because a clog is not something that you should be living with for a long period of time.
Take The Temperature Into Account
One of the biggest problems for many homes during winter is the problems with frozen pipes and the damage they can undergo. Ice in the pipes can lead to clogs, leaks, and even pipes bursting and breaking under the strain of the ice inside of them. So don’t be afraid to focus on insulating your pipes and ensuring that they are able to stay warm despite the winter months.
Additionally, use tactics like having your faucet start to drip during the wintertime in order for water to keep on flowing. You can also wrap a towel around any outdoor faucets that will be exposed to the cold to prevent your outdoor water systems from freezing. Things like that can prevent your wallet from heating up because you’ve had to keep using it to pay a plumber!
Check The Rest Of Your Plumbing
Much like an AC unit, there is an inside unit as well as one that is outside for your water tanks. So don’t be afraid to check your septic tank and/or your sewer lines. Especially if you live in an older home, because your septic tank needs to be pumped every three to five years so you don’t get any messy sewage backups.
Additionally, if you have sewer lines, then you should also make sure that those are cleaned and professionally inspected by a plumber every two years or so. Especially if you start to see slow draining.
Have A Plumber Look It Over
Finally, there is no greater peace of mind than simply having a professional set of eyes on your plumbing equipment and giving you the all clear. Don’t be afraid to reach out to one of your local plumbers for a free consultation and have them give your system a once over to make sure that everything is perfect.
They will be able to tell you everything you need to know about your plumbing system, make notes of any issues that arise, and then also ensure that you have a plan to fix them. So if you find that your system does need maintenance or is on the verge of needing some serious repairs, you can know about the potential issues beforehand.
You should try to have your plumbing system inspected at least twice a year, but ideally before winter hits. That’s going to ensure that your system is ready to go, and you won’t need to worry about any plumbing problems!
