Most people accept and understand that things require maintenance to function optimally and last a long time. For example, your car needs oil changes, new breaks, and tires to run smoothly - it’s expected. Your home’s heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems require routine maintenance like changing out air filters and removing debris from your outdoor AC unit. It becomes part of the routine and you don’t think twice about it.
But what about routine plumbing maintenance? It seems to be one part of the home that most people forget about.
Why Should I Care About Plumbing Maintenance?
Plumbing maintenance is important because it can prevent frustrating and costly problems in the future.
The first step to ensuring that your plumbing is properly maintained is to understand all aspects of your water system. This includes anything and everything that uses water within your home, including your sinks, appliances, garbage disposal, washing machine, toilets, showers, water heater, etc. You can routinely maintain all of these components of your plumbing system to prevent future problems.
How Do I Maintain My Plumbing System?
It’s not as difficult or time-consuming as you may be thinking. Here are some steps that you can take to ensure your plumbing is and will continue to function optimally.
- Check for and fix leaking faucets, showerheads, and pipes under sinks.
- Unclog drains that empty slowly. It’s best to resolve a clog as early as possible. Here you can read about safe drain cleaning alternatives.
- Check for water leaks on all exposed pipes and appliances, including your garbage disposal, refrigerator, and water heater. You can install a drip tray under your water heater and washing machine to lessen the damage if a leak does occur.
- Fix any leaking toilets. The cause of a leaking toilet is typically an inexpensive, quick repair. Common causes include a faulty seal around the valve seat, gunk build-up around the valve seat and flapper, or an issue with the handle or tank stopper.
- Frequently monitor your water pressure to ensure that it remains at a safe level. You could add a pressure regulator to automatically maintain your water pressure.
- Be cautious of what you’re flushing down the toilet. Even though lots of things can easily be flushed, it doesn’t mean they should. Stick to only flushing toilet paper and human waste to avoid future complications.
- Frequently remove shower heads and clean off any sediment that has accumulated.
- Remove the sediment from your water heater by draining it 1-2 times per year.
- Frequently peek at your water heater’s burning chamber. You want to ensure that the flame of the water heater is blue in color. A yellow flame may indicate that the jets need to be cleaned. You also want to make sure that you don’t see any flakes of rust inside the burning chamber.
- Have your septic tank inspected regularly and make sure that you have it pumped every 3-5 years.
- Check hoses for cracks and leaks and replace them as needed.
- Have your sewer lines snaked every 3-5 years to prevent clogging.
Most of the preventative maintenance required for your plumbing system is easy to complete, but if you find a problem and are unsure how to repair it, we are happy to help. You can book an appointment here.
