Important Plumbing Maintenance Tips
Your home’s plumbing is a vital system that supplies your family with clean water and gets rid of waste. It’s easy to take this intricate network of pipes for granted until something goes wrong.
Fortunately, there are many things you can do to prevent and detect plumbing issues. Here are some important plumbing maintenance tips: 1. Inspect Your Pipes.
- Inspect Your Pipes
Your plumbing pipes are a complex network of water highways, and they need to be kept in top condition. When you neglect them, it can lead to a lot of costly repairs, water damage to your home, health hazards from mold and other problems, and legal issues if your pipes are leaking sewage onto public property.
Luckily, your plumber will be able to spot most problems with your pipes before they become major concerns. They can look for signs of clogs, cracks, and other problems with your pipes in places like attics and crawl spaces where you might not be able to easily reach.
Other symptoms that you might need a pipe inspection include a foul smell, damp walls or ceilings, and slow water drainage. The sooner you have any of these signs inspected, the better. It will give you a chance to fix the problem before it worsens and save yourself from expensive consequences.
- Check Your Shut-Off Valve
A properly working shut-off valve is one of the most important components in a home plumbing system. It provides the ability to cut off the water supply in an emergency, which can prevent disastrous flooding or even fire damage.
Valves that don’t get used often tend to develop calcium deposits and other internal issues over time. Getting into the habit of turning off and on your valves can help break up these deposits and keep them in good condition.
Shut-off valves are typically located in the basement, garage, or near the foundation of your house. There may also be individual shut-offs for specific fixtures such as sinks and toilets. You might find them under the sink, in the crawl space, or near your water heater. Locating these valves can be helpful in case of an emergency, so it’s a good idea to know where they are. It’s also a good idea to test these valves every now and then.
- Clean Your Faucets and Showerheads
The warm, moist environments around faucets and showerheads are breeding grounds for bacteria, mildew, mold and other microorganisms that can affect the taste and smell of your water. In the worst cases, they can also cause skin irritations or infections.
In addition, mineral deposits and soap scum can clog the small openings in faucets and showerheads, reducing their functionality and leading to reduced water flow. Cleaning your showerhead and faucet regularly will prevent this clogging and ensure that your water is healthy and clean.
To clean your fixtures, mix vinegar and hot water to form a spray solution that you can use to remove hard-water deposits and stubborn grime. You can also soak your faucet aerator in this solution and scrub it with a toothbrush to remove stubborn buildup. Regular cleanings of your faucets and showerheads can help prevent unsightly stains, improve water flow and extend their lifespan.
- Check Your Drains
It’s easy to ignore the health of your drains until something goes wrong, but a little regular attention can save you from costly repair bills down the road. Keeping your drains clear minimizes wear and tear on pipes and can help identify potential issues, such as root intrusion and blockages.
The most common cause of clogged drains is improper waste disposal, so it’s important to educate family members about what can and cannot go down the drains. Use a strainer or drain catchers to keep hair and food particles out of kitchen and bathroom drains, and avoid pouring grease, coffee grounds, and non-disposable items like wipes down the toilet.
You can also perform simple maintenance tasks at home to prevent clogs, such as pouring a mixture of baking soda and vinegar down your drains monthly to break up residue and maintain pipe health. For a more comprehensive inspection, consult a professional plumbing service. They can use specialized equipment to inspect even the most difficult-to-reach places of your plumbing system. Sites like https://www.fixitrightplumbing.com.au/blocked-drains-melbourne/ will have helpful information on plumbing services.