What could be worse than a plumbing problem? A sky-high plumbing bill.
All jokes aside, your plumbing system does need constant maintenance. Luckily, home plumbing maintenance only requires time and just a fraction of the cost of hiring a professional plumber.
Here are some tips for keeping your plumbing system in top shape to prevent plumbing emergencies.
1. Flush Your Water Heater
Your water heater is essential for warming up your water so that you won’t have to take cold showers or wash your hands in ice water. A properly functioning water heater can provide months of toasty warm water for the entire family.
Eventually, minerals can settle at the bottom of your heater, which can cause it to rust. Prevent possible damage to your water heater by flushing it at least once a year. Banging noises from your water heater will remind you that it’s time to do a flush, but it’s better to take care of the matter beforehand with yearly plumbing maintenance.
2. Check the Pipes
Pipes can develop leaks or incur enough damage to need repair or replacement. Check for leaks by following your piping from end to end. Look for worn areas that may need repair or replacement.
If you do find a leak, you’ll have to decide on attempting to repair it yourself or calling in a professional. Depending on the severity of the situation, you may opt to hire professional plumbing maintenance companies like waterworkplumbing.com. In the meantime, you may want to use a bucket to catch any dripping water.
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3. Check the Water Pressure
Water pressure is vital for running water through your pipes and out of your showerheads or faucets. There should be a steady amount of water pressure at all times. Inconsistent water pressure could signify a problem such as frozen pipes.
Purchase a water pressure gauge to check the water pressure of all of your plumbing fixtures. Perform checks on all of your faucets and showerheads every week.
4. Don’t Flush it Down the Toilet
It may seem like just about anything can go down the toilet, but anything other than human waste or toilet paper can spell doom for your septic system. Foreign objects can clog your toilet or damage your septic system.
It may be easy to fix a clogged toilet, but other problems may cost a small fortune.
Keep a vigilant eye on your bathroom environment for falling objects that may end up in your toilet to prevent issues before they arise. If possible, keep any unnecessary items away from the toilet area and tucked away safely in cabinets or drawers.
Keep Plumbing Maintenance a Priority
It’s good to know how to handle plumbing problems, but it’s an even better idea to prevent them from happening in the first place. Save yourself the trouble of urgent plumbing issues and high repair bills by routinely performing plumbing maintenance alongside a plumbing preventative maintenance plan.
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