The Do’s And Don’ts Of Home Plumbing Maintenance

The sound of dripping water is one no homeowner ever wants to hear. Neither is the sound of a pipe exploding nor the smell of rotten eggs. Those are tell-tale signs of a plumbing problem. If you want to keep them from becoming a pain in your budget and daily living, knowing the basics of plumbing maintenance is a must.

If the plumbing maintenance and repair job is too big to tackle on your own, there’s no harm in calling the experts. A prudent homeowner knows that looking up ‘plumber near me’ online can save a lot of time and energy as well as reduce the risk of a busted job. Staying on top of good home plumbing maintenance should always be a concerted effort by the homeowner and their trusted plumbing company.

These do’s and don’ts of home plumbing maintenance should give the basics of what to know.

And if you’re interested in learning even more, you can check out this video: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCV2jbuGrkhc_L7BZsyWy67Q/featured

 

The Do’s

• Know Where Your Water Valves Are

If you’ve ever tried searching ‘Westminster, CO Plumber near me‘ or something related to your community, you may have learned that this is a handy thing to know in managing your home plumbing. In fact, everyone should know where you can find the shut-off valves.

If you’ve moved to a home and you don’t know where they are, contact a local plumber so they can show you. Knowing where the valves are lets you quickly stop the flow of water when a leak happens. In turn, this lets you prevent significant water damage and save your supply.

• Have The Right Tools

It’s important to have a toolbox with everything you need for basic home maintenance work, including plumbing tools. If you don’t have the right ones, it may not be a good idea to do a DIY plumbing repair.

Having the right tools is crucial for two reasons: for getting the job done right and for your safety. You don’t want to risk breaking more of the pipes or getting yourself injured.

 

 

• Read Labels

Always read the label of any chemical product you plan to use on your pipes, sinks, or toilets, no matter how top-rated they may be. Not all of them may be suitable for use. Doing this lets you know the proper way to utilize them and avoid hazards.

Follow the recommendations all the time. If you’re unsure, you can always check user manuals online. Or, ask your plumber about it. If the products aren’t something they recommend using, you might want to take their word for it.

The Don’ts

• Put Trash Down The Drain

It can be tempting to let vegetable peels, fat, cooking oil, and coffee grounds drain into the sink. But while they’re biodegradable, they’re not necessarily friendly to your pipes. Even those small bits of trash that can easily go down the drain should still be disposed in the trash bins.

Bits of trash easily collect in pipes, causing blockages. These will either cause any fluid to flow back up your drains or burst your pipes altogether. Not only are these major inconveniences, but they also translate to expensive repairs or replacements.

• Ignore An Overflowing Toilet

A good-functioning toilet shouldn’t have a water level that rises first before dropping when you flush.

When you notice your toilet doing this, you need to give a check. Open the tank and push the flush valve down. This is only a temporary fix, but it’ll help stop the water. This should give you ample time to call your trusted plumber for a more permanent solution.

• Overlook Small Leaks

If you noticed water stains on your walls or floors that get wet for no reason, your plumbing may be leaking somewhere.

Many homeowners still make the mistake of ignoring leaks, putting them off for later. But even if they look small, don’t ignore them. Over time, they lead to much more damage that can lower the value of your property, strain your budget, and ruin your daily life at home.

When you notice any leak in your home, you can start by shutting off the valve and letting the taps closest to the leak drain out. Next, dry the leaking area and smooth out the busted part with a metal file. You can then apply a patch to cover it up.

If the leak continues after these steps, give your trusted plumber a call.

 

 

Conclusion

Every homeowner goes through plumbing problems now and then. Highly technical issues like those are best handled by expert tradesmen. However, this doesn’t mean homeowners can’t do their part. These do’s and don’ts above should encourage you to take charge of your plumbing maintenance.