Having a working plumbing system is essential for any home. Leaks, clogs, and other issues cause extensive water damage or leave you without running water. While hiring a professional plumbing service regularly is ideal, there are many things to maintain your plumbing between visits. With some simple maintenance and awareness of your plumbing system, you prevent issues and keep everything working properly.
Importance of plumbing maintenance
It’s easy to take working plumbing for granted. However, putting in the effort to maintain your system properly prevents catastrophic disasters. Issues like burst pipes destroy drywall, flooring, and other structures’ personal belongings. Catching minor leaks early prevents this flooding and water-logged infrastructure. Additionally, maintenance helps prevent backups and clogs. When drains get severely clogged, you may need to call a plumber for hydrojetting or drain snaking. It cost hundreds of dollars. Staying on top of buildup in your drain lines using DIY methods is much more affordable.
Monitoring drain health
Drain maintenance is crucial for preventing clogged and slow drains. Begin by understanding your home’s drain system layout. Remember that all drains lead to the main sewer line which exits your home. Mapping your drain lines allows strategic drain maintenance at key points. Thoroughly cleaning drains here prevents cumulative buildup. Use a plastic drain snake monthly to pull out hair and debris. For tougher grime deposits, try an enzyme cleaner or baking soda/vinegar treatment monthly. For example, the overflow drain in a tub collects hair and soap scum but is often neglected. Clean all drains thoroughly once per season. Monitoring your drains frequently makes you more familiar with normal flow levels to detect clogs sooner.
Checking for leaks
Leaks cause an incredible amount of water waste and damage. Check all accessible water fixtures at least monthly for leaks. Examine pipe fittings below sinks for dripping. Verify toilets are not constantly running by adding dye tabs or food coloring to check the tank bowl water level. See if your water meter changes with all fixtures of a leak somewhere. It’s also important to inspect areas prone to concealed leaks yearly. Look for water-stained drywall or floors around toilets, sinks, tubs, and under cabinet pipe work. Check the water heater drain pan and discharge tube for flow indicating a leak. Crawl spaces, basements, and attics with plumbing should be scanned for dampness or pooling water. Catching hidden leaks early is critical to limit damages. True Local or Yelp often has listings for emergency plumber Northern Beaches with reviews and contact details.
Examining pipes and supply lines
Checking exposed water pipes and supply lines regularly makes it easy to catch drips and flaws before they burst. Pipes most prone to leaks include older galvanized piping, PVC, CPVC, and polybutylene. Scan pipes frequently checking for corrosion, cracks, discoloration, scale buildup wear, and pending failure. Also, examine pipe joints for water staining or calcification. Check compression fittings on supply lines for drips. Trace all supply lines checking connections at faucets, toilets, water heaters, ice makers, washing machines, and dishwashers. A slow drip may mean joints just need tightening whereas corrosion spots indicate replacements are needed. Taking the time for visuals prevents huge headaches.
