When it comes to ensuring the well-being of your home and all of its working systems, preventive care is everything. This is especially true of plumbing. It’s all about starting a routine and taking a moment here and there to check the most taken-for-granted elements that keep your pipes clean and free-flowing. A few simple proactive measures are all it takes to avoid disastrous, costly repairs down the road.
Fortunately, we’ve compiled a list of common plumbing maintenance tips that can help keep money in your pocket and your home working in top shape. Here are some things that should become routine:
- Drains – Though easy enough to check and care for, regular drain maintenance is often overlooked until something dramatic happens. But, you don’t want to wait until your floors are soaking wet and your house is flooded to check your drains. Keep your drains and pipes build-up free by using strainers to catch debris (e.g. hair, pieces of soap, food particles, etc.) that could create clogs.
- Toilet – It’s best to get into the routine of checking your toilet for leaks, as these can lead to excessive, costly water use. Whether you notice continuous running or have seen signs of water leaking out, you can easily check it yourself using food coloring. All you need to do is add a drop into your toilet’s tank, then wait 15 minutes. Once the time has passed, if you find the dye has seeped out into your toilet bowl, then you have a leak on your hands that will need repair.
- Taps – It may seem like a no-brainer, but one of the easiest ways to save money is to simply turn off your taps. We’ve all had that one faucet that just drips and drips. Sure, it’s a bit of an annoyance, but did you know that that little drip can actually waste up to 15 gallons of water a day? More than that, you can expect that tiny drip to cost you upwards of $100 extra on your water bill each year. Fortunately, you can avoid both of these issues by simply taking the time to check that all of your taps are properly and securely turned off after each use. And, if you find you’re unable to stop a leaking faucet yourself, then call in a professional to make the appropriate corrective measures.
- Garbage Disposal – It’s imperative that you pay attention to what goes down your garbage disposal, as this is not a trash bin alternative. Your disposal is not designed to handle anything and everything; it’s not indestructible! So, make sure you only put materials down your disposal that it was designed to handle. Things like leftover food, bones, peels, stringy vegetables, fruit pits and more, for example, should never be put down the disposal. These items can cause clogs as well as unnecessary stress on the appliance that can lead to cracking.
- Grease – One of the biggest rules in home plumbing no-no’s is that you should never, ever put fats and oils down your drains! Once cooled, these materials solidify, and if they do so in your pipes, you’re looking at potentially costly clogs. The only way these materials should be disposed of is in the trash bin. The best way is to pour your hot grease into a heat resistant container, wait for it to cool, then toss it in the garbage.
- Water Meter – While you may be alerted to a leak somewhere in your home through a spike in your water bill, you can also track your home’s water usage by monitoring your water meter. The best way to see if there are any hidden leaks is to pick a period of time to record your meter’s reading when no water is in use. For example, say you make your first reading at noon and your second at one. If the meter’s reading changes during this time when no water has been used, then you’re facing a leak somewhere in your home.
Make sure your home remains working in top condition by incorporating these simple tips into your maintenance routine. Trust us, a little TLC now will save you a fortune later! If you do believe there is a leak in your home, don’t wait to do something about it. Call Tritan Plumbing for speedy service and repair so that you and your home remain safe and sound.
