Maintaining households and fixtures on regular basis is necessary however, it can be tricky for some people who do not have much experience in plumbing. Hiring a professional each time can be costly and hassle, so here are few plumbing secrets house owners can benefit from:
1.Take care of pipes:
Pipe leaks can be very harmful around the house. They tend to damage the furniture, ceilings, carpets, create an unpleasant smell around the house and also increase the water bill. In order to prevent pipe leakage, one must take action. Always look for water dripping in any part of the house, check drains regularly, and keep an eye on water pressure. Pipes leak usually around the joints so make sure to check the joints every now and then.
Furthermore, following actions can be taken to protect water pipes around the house:
- Wrap pipes in foam tubes as they protect pipes and keep them warm when it gets cold.
- During severe winter nights, always turn on the outer faucet so the water keeps flowing. It prevents pipes from freezing out during cold nights and snow.
- Pipes tend to freeze during winter, therefore always detach the hose from exterior faucets otherwise they can damage the pipes. Also, turn off all the interior valves that regulate the exterior faucets.
2.No Clogging:
The most common problem plumbers take care of on regular basis is clogging. People, especially with small children in the house, tend to clog toilet and sinks. It is very important to educate all the family members about the do’s and don’ts of using toilet. There are a number of things that can’t go down a sink or a toilet bowl. The best way to remind everyone is to make a list and stick it on the back of the toilet door so everyone can read it while using the toilet. The list can include following things:
- Toilet papers
- Kids’ toys
- Cigarettes
- Edible items
- Chewing gums
- Sanitary pads, and the list goes on.
3.Sump Pump Maintenance:
Sump pump is extremely important as it helps release the water that is accumulating; the basic function of sump pump is to prevent water flowing inside houses. In case, the sump pump is not functioning properly, the house can fill up with water and damage the furniture and other households. Therefore, it is extremely important to maintain the sump pump regularly, so it does not go out of order. The maintenance is not very difficult, just follow below steps to keep in clean:
- Clean the sump pump after every 3 months
- Since the sump pump is electrically operated, so please make sure that it is plugged in at all times.
- Do sump pump tests at least 2-3 times in a year to check if it is functioning properly. You can do so, by filling the sump pip and see if sump pump can expel water.
- In case sump pump needs replacement, always invest in latest and good quality pump so it can benefit long term.
4.Water Heater Maintenance:
If water heater is out of order, the cost of getting it fixed can be a lot. The best way is to learn some basic water heater maintenance techniques, so it helps in long term.
- Drain the heater once a year, especially before start of the winter.
- Maintain the temperature at 120 degrees, otherwise the cost increase at every 10 degrees over it.
- Install foaming tubes on all the pipes leading to water heater in order to protect them.
- Keep a check on the pressure.
Despite taking care these simple measures, it can still become unavoidable to hire a professional plumber for issues that are not in control of the house owner and require professional care.
