Your plumbing is one of the most underappreciated functions in your home. Without it, most of your favorite appliances wouldn’t run, nor would you be able to complete general household tasks. Even being without plumbing for a day would throw a wrench in your life. Just think of the dishes that would pile in the sink, the inconvenience of not being able to shower, or even just the inability to wash your hands!
We think every homeowner should be able to maintain their home’s plumbing to a certain extent. Below are our five tips for maintaining your plumbing.
Get to know your plumbing.
No, we don’t mean you need to buy it dinner, just figure out where everything is. Not only is it important to know where the pipes are in case of future leaks, but also you need to be wary of them when making other renovations.
In addition, you should always know where the shut off valve is for your home’s plumbing. It’s best to locate the valve before you need it, like we discussed in this post about flooded basements.
Check for leaks.
Leaks in your plumbing aren’t always obvious so it is important to check for them regularly. If left for long periods of time, a leak can waste a lot of money and water. So, for your wallet’s sake, and the environment, make it a habit to check for leaks.
A great way to check for plumbing leaks is to monitor the water meter on your property. To do so, check the meter at night when everyone is using water and again in the morning before anyone wakes up. If the meter is higher in the morning, you most likely have a leak.
Maintain your hot water heater.
We know we’ve already talked to you about your hot water heater, but it’s so important we felt the need to bring it up again. It is important to check your heater every six months for signs of wear. And remember, hot water heaters last an average of ten years, so if yours is nearing that mark, it’s important to be more vigilant in monitoring its function.
Maintain the drains in your home.
It’s easy to forget about your drains until there is something wrong, such as a clog, but it is important to have them inspected and cleaned annually by a professional. Trust us, maintaining your drains is more cost effective than having to pay for an excavation to replace them.
Know your limits.
We get it, you like to do the work yourself. You’re a DIY kind of person. But remember when we covered the most common DIY plumbing mistakes? Don’t let that be you. Sometimes the simplest of jobs can turn catastrophic if not handled properly.
As always, contact us at A&A Plumbing with any questions you may have!
