Most homeowners rarely think of their plumbing system until a plumbing emergency occurs.
A functional plumbing system ensures smooth operations inside your home or business.
Usual activities, such as bathing and showering, may be affected if your plumbing system is defective.
Most plumbing emergencies are unpredictable. They often result in expensive repairs, as most occur at odd hours or during holidays.
This, however, shouldn’t be the norm. You can take several measures to ensure that your plumbing system serves you longer without unexpected hitches.
Read on to learn how to care for your plumbing system and avoid plumbing emergencies.
1. Keep Your Plumbing Pipes in Proper Condition
Water pipes are prone to damage. Corrosion, high water pressure, and rust are the leading causes of pipe damage.
If you buy an old house, beware that the plumbing system may be less efficient.
You may need to re-pipe the whole building to avoid water leaks and burst pipes.
Winter periods cause water to freeze in pipes. This freezing can lead to cracking and bursting of the pipes.
Insulate your pipes properly to prevent them from bursting. Expose them to warm air by opening the cabinets.
Leave your faucets dripping slightly to reduce freezing in your pipes. Clear any water present in your sprinkler system.
All these measures prolong the lifespan of your plumbing pipes.
2. Avoid Pouring Fats, Oils, or Grease Down the Drains
When you flash fats or grease down your drain, you run the risk of clogging your drains. As grease travels down the drain, it coagulates and becomes sticky.
Eventually, substances flowing down the drain get attached to the grease or fats.
This leads to the build-up of a clog, which can be difficult and costly to clean.
Dispose of any fats, oils, and grease in a trash can rather than in a drain.
3. Avoid Flushing Non-Flushable Items Down Your Toilet
If you have ever experienced an overflowing toilet, then you know the nightmare it presents.
An overflowing toilet can result in flooding if not fixed quickly. It also poses a health hazard to the home occupants.
To eliminate any chance of your toilet fixture ever clogging, avoid flushing non-flushable items down the toilet drains.
Non-flushable Items, such as diapers and paper towels, can cause a backup when flushed down the toilet.
Have a separate trash can to dispose of such items.
4. Avoid Chemical Drain Cleaners
Although chemical drain cleaners can clear tiny clogs effectively, they also corrode your pipes.
Chemical drain cleaners sometimes fail to unclog the drains. They cannot clean hardened crusts.
Repeated use of chemical drain cleaning agents results in thinning out of your pipes. In turn, this increases the chances of pipe leaks.
Use a chemical-free approach to clear your drain clogs, such as the use of a plunger. If the clog persists, call a plumbing expert.
5. Routine Checks of Your Water Heater Tanks
To prolong the lifespan of your water heater tank, always conduct regular maintenance with a qualified plumber from team emergency plumber (see here).
It is advisable to empty your water heater tank at least twice a year. This reduces the chances of sediments and debris depositing at the bottom of the tank.
If you notice discolored water coming out of your water heater tank, it is time to empty it.
6. Maintain Your Garbage Disposal Machine in Good Condition
A garbage disposal machine handles small bits of food left on dinner dishes effectively.
It often malfunctions when exposed to hard items like bones and fruit pits.
It also clogs when handling stringy materials like celery stalks and starchy materials like pasta.
Substances such as plastics and metals can damage your machine. Have a trash can to dispose of such items.
7. Know the Location of Your Main Water Shut-off Valve
If you don’t know the location of the main water shut-off valve in your home, it is time to check it out.
If you can’t trace the valve, have your plumber locate it for you. Switching off your main water supply can prevent a small pipe leak from escalating into a plumbing disaster.
It also creates a window of time for your plumber to arrive. If you know the location of your main water supply valve, ensure that it’s working.
8. Install a Sump Pump
If you are in an area prone to natural disasters, such as flash floods and hurricanes, it’s wise to consider installing a sump pump.
A sump pump is installed on the lowest level of your home where flooding is more likely to start. It pumps out water as soon as it starts to accumulate.
A sump pump can save you huge costs associated with water damage.
9. Check out For Leaks
Always conduct routine checks for leaks in your home. If you spot a minor leak, do not be tempted to ignore it. It can raise your utility bills significantly.
In addition, it can develop into a bigger plumbing problem in the future. Always call your plumber to fix any leak, no matter how minor it is.
10. Maintain Optimum Water Pressure
Always keep an eye on your home water pressure. Prolonged high water pressure can damage your pipes.
If you are unsure of your home water pressure, check it using a water pressure gauge.
If you notice low water pressure in your fixtures, such as faucets and showerheads, it may indicate the presence of a clog or a leak in your pipes.
Call your plumber to identify the cause of low water pressure and fix it.