Like most issues with maintaining a house, plumbing problems can be avoided by doing preventive measures. Knowing the basic dos and don’ts of plumbing will save you from headaches and expenditures that come with repairs. You don’t have to worry about a leaking pipeline and sewer system. But if you do, you can get trenchless sewer repair done for your Salt Lake City home, but you can do smart plumbing maintenance and make your life easier.
Dos
1. Cold water should be turned on first and hot water should be turned off first. Even your children should know this to keep your pipes and your water line running smoothly.
2. Open your water heater’s drain at least twice a year to remove any sediment that might have stuck on the heater. Sediment accumulation not only causes your heater to run less efficiently, but it could also damage the water heater permanently.
3. Perform a cleanup of all aerators from time to time. Hard water can cause dirt and mineral deposits to clog your aerators that can cause your water to taste funny. Sometimes, the clogs also cause decreased water flow or uneven spray in your showers. To avoid that, use a cleaning solution like CLR to soak the aerators.
4. Remove grease or hair build-up from your shower and tub drains by pouring boiling water. The exact amount should be two to three galloons, and you should do it once every month.
5. When using the waste disposer, use it at full pressure with cold water to keep food particles solid.
Don’ts
1. Coffee grounds belong to the wastebaskets, or the compost bin, not the sink drains. Coffee grounds can clog your pipes since they can still clump together over time.
2. Pouring cooking oils or any other fats in your sink is the major cause of sewer overflows, backups, and blockages. Don’t pour anything fatty and oily on your sink.
3. Putting anything solid into the toilet is likely to clog it. It doesn’t matter if it is “flushable” or “biodegradable” baby wipes or diapers. Even biodegradable materials take a long time to degrade. To be safe, keep solid things away from your toilet and don’t even be tempted to flush them.
4. Warm water on the toilet is fine, but hot water can cause your toilet bowl to crack, and you won’t want to imagine the next part. It’s just that toilets are not designed to hold hot water so avoid pouring one into your toilet to ‘unclog’ it.
5. Wastebaskets right under your sink can bump the drain pipes. Unknowingly, the bumping can also cause leaks into your pipes.
A much-needed reminder
In case your pipes get clogged, or there’s a pipe leaking somewhere, and you’ve done what you can, but the problem is still there, don’t try to fix things on your own. Instead, call a plumbing service to do the fixing for you. This way, you won’t make the problem worse and save yourself from a disaster of sewer spew or some other accident.
By knowing and applying these tips, you can extend and improve the service life of your home’s plumbing system. Share some of them to your friends and family to help them save their sinks, too!
