Who doesn’t love a good list? Whether it’s for weekly groceries or holiday gifts, creating a list is a great way to stay organized and accomplished. While you’re at it, we encourage you to add home plumbing maintenance to your list of lists.
Why it plumbing maintenance important? Because so much of our daily lives depend on it: drinking water, bathing, cooking, cleaning, and so much more. Of course, most of the plumbing in our homes is out of sight (and usually out of mind), such as pipes concealed behind walls and water heat hidden in the basement.
With a few simple tasks, you can protect your home’s plumbing, prevent clogs, reduce your water usage, ensure quality drinking water, and extend the service life of appliances. Here’s a checklist to help you get started.
Daily and weekly plumbing maintenance
- Avoid pouring fats, oils, and greases down the kitchen drain
- Run cold water before and after using the garbage disposal
- Install and check screens over tub drains to catch hair and other debris
- Only flush human waste and toilet paper down the toilet – all other products should go in the trash
- Use a plunger or Zip-It tool to unclog a drain – avoid using liquid clog removal products that contain harsh chemicals
- Allow some time between showers to maintain consistent how water and water pressure
- Be alert for signs of a leak, including puddles of water, water stains, or musty smells
- Check drains for early signs of clogs such as slower draining and bubbles coming up from the drain
Fall plumbing maintenance
- Remove the hose from the outdoor faucet, then shut off the water valve to the faucet to prevent freezing
- Inspect and clean gutters
- Inspect and clean sump pump
- Insulate pipes that are in unheated spaces and close to exterior walls
- Set your water heater to 120 degrees
- Drain and flush your water heater remove sediment that may be collecting and can corrode the tank
Winter plumbing maintenance
- Maintain proper heating in your home to keep the pipes warm
- If leaving home for an extended period of time, turn on faucets just enough to allow a trickle of water, which can help prevent freezing
- If a pipe freezes, turn off of the water at the shutoff valve and call a professional plumber right away – do not use a hairdryer or torch to thaw the pipe
Plumbers in New Haven and Fairfield Counties
When it comes to maintaining your home’s plumbing, even small things can make a big difference. If you follow this checklist, you can reduce the risk of an annoying or costly plumbing issue in your home.
If you do run into a plumbing problem, don’t hesitate to contact Rick’s Plumbing. Our team of certified plumbers and apprentices provide the best plumbing service in the area. Call us today at 203-874-6629.