A flawlessly working plumbing system is the cornerstone of maintaining a house’s comfort and peace. However, since it’s out of sight and out of mind, homeowners usually don’t pay much attention to their plumbing system unless something goes amiss. Overlooking modest issues can trigger expensive plumbing repairs and reduce your system’s longevity. Fortunately, maintaining your plumbing system isn’t as difficult as you might think. By scheduling residential plumbing services annually from trusted plumbers in San Jose, you can keep your plumbing system in top condition.
Besides, you can undertake a few preemptive measures to keep things flowing smoothly, ensuring year-round comfort and enhanced functionality. So, without further ado, let’s learn how to provide the care your plumbing system needs by using our handy plumbing maintenance tips.
Plumbing Maintenance Tips You Should Know
• Pay Attention to Toilet Leaks
Discovering a leaky toilet can be aggravating and nasty. Thus, to avoid such issues, examine your toilet regularly for pooling water around its base or dripping from under the tank. This issue is straightforwardly doable by tightening the floor or tank bolts. Additionally, the culprit could be wax rings or tank gaskets, necessitating a professional intervention.
While a few significant plumbing repairs are best left to professionals, minor repairs can feasibly be resolved with a tad of know-how and appropriate tools. Consult professionals for annual residential plumbing inspections to prevent pesky issues from erupting and escalating.
• Watch What Goes Down the Drains
Be vigilant of what goes down your drain! Over time, drains may develop blockages due to exposure to everyday objects, like hair, soap scum, food particles, oil/grease, and any other foreign objects. Consequently, it may form stubborn clogs if left unaddressed, eventually necessitating snaking the drain or the special attention of expert plumbers.
So, heeding what you pour down the drain can help you keep your drains clog-free and flawlessly flowing. Furthermore, consider using the concoction of baking soda and vinegar, followed by hot water, to clean your drains regularly. Also, steer clear of using drain cleaners, as they can jeopardize your drain pipes, making them prone to early breakage.
• Examine Appliances
All your appliances, including the water heater, washing machine, garbage disposals, refrigerators, dishwashers, etc, are connected to the main water line. Owning to using ample amounts of water, they become the potential source of subtle water leaks that can trigger expensive repairs if disregarded. Detecting low water pressure, an abrupt increase in water consumption, and a spike in water bills are all red flags for hidden leaks. If you discover any of these signs, enlist an emergency plumbing service in Modesto to resolve them before they worsen.
• Avoid Using Your Toilet as a Garbage Can
Your toilets are meant to handle human waste and toilet paper. Apart from them, anything you pour down the toilet can inflict clogs and damage pipes. Things like facial wipes and paper towels shouldn’t be flushed in the toilet since they aren’t designed to disintegrate easily when in contact with water. Consequently, they form solid clogs, requiring professional drain cleaning services. Additionally, dispose of diapers, feminine hygiene products, wipes, and other items appropriately in a trash can.
• Inspect Your Garbage Disposal
Garbage disposal in your kitchen is indeed a blessing for homeowners. Yet, it accompanies some drawbacks as well. However, paying special attention to what you can and can’t pour down your garbage disposal can spare you from hassle and costly fixes. Refrain from putting rice, pasta, fibrous or starchy vegetables, eggshells, potato peels, and coffee grounds in the machine. Pouring these items can endanger your disposal or feasibly clog your sink drain and deter your garbage disposal’s smooth functioning. Remember not to pour oil or grease, notably hot, in the garbage disposal, as they can solidify in the drain, creating a deeper clog in the pipes.
• Check Your Water Pressure
High water pressure is one of the prevalent causes of leaky or broken pipes. While homes should have an ideal water pressure of around 40 to 50 Psi, having a water pressure above this level can strain your plumbing pipes, weakening their pipe joints and making them vulnerable to bursting. Conversely, discovering low water pressure can signify a hidden leak in the plumbing system. Call a plumbing professional to gauge your home’s water pressure and install a regulator if there’s a high water pressure.
• Insulate Your Pipes
Consider insulating your pipes in basements, attics, crawlspaces, and other unheated areas to safeguard them from freezing temperatures. If your location experiences frigid winters and heavy snowfall, it’s a must for you to keep your pipes protected through insulation. Install pipe insulation sleeves to your outer plumbing pipes to reduce the chance of freezing.
• Keep an Eye Out for Your Sewer Drains
Irrespective of whether your house has a separate septic tank or is connected to a sewer line, investing your time in its appropriate maintenance is imperative to ensure the proper disposal of waste. Have your drains inspected annually by an expert to avert other nasty sewer line issues from arising. With time, your sewer lines may develop clogs due to consistent usage and water flow, triggering a slew of issues in your sewer drains at home. Hence, if you inspect a subtle sign of blockage, it’s prudent to take immediate action and schedule a sewer line maintenance to prevent this pesky problem.
• Drain Your Water Heater
You rely predominantly on your water heater to meet daily household needs, from washing and bathing to cleaning utensils. However, your water heater may experience harmful sediment buildup owing to persistent usage, which can corrode the sacrificial anode rod and the interior walls if not drained. Consequently, it may disrupt your water heater’s flawless functioning, reducing its longevity while making it prone to early failure.
Thus, add water heater draining to your annual to-do list to remove and prevent sediment accumulation. Flush it twice a year if your area has hard water. Doing so may help you add more years to your water heater’s average lifespan and enhance its operation.
When to Seek Professional Plumbing Assistance
While preceding preventative measures can help keep your house’s plumbing system at its peak, some problems may need the intervention of a skilled and experienced plumber to identify the underlying issue and propose the best solution. If you detect a persistent leakage, burst pipe, or water heater issue or experience a plumbing emergency, it’s best to consult a plumbing professional. Leveraging their extensive expertise and in-depth plumbing knowledge, they can effectively and professionally resolve your plumbing woe and get your system back on track.