Ways To Maintain Your Plumbing’s Integrity
Plumbing is easy to overlook. It usually functions without much concern and keeps your household running smoothly. Taking proper care of your plumbing, however, is important. Otherwise, problems can crop up and leave you with less function than you’re used to. What are some ways you can prevent your plumbing from wearing out or taking damage? Let’s look at a few of them.
Keeping the drains clean
One of the things that is quick to cause problems with your plumbing is a clog in the drains. These can happen a number of ways but will usually end with frustration and a backed up sink or tub. To start, use a screen or other metal catch to keep food, hair, or other objects from going down the drain. Refrain from dumping any kind of oil or fat down your kitchen drain as it can then congeal and block the pipes. In the case of a blockage, do not use a chemical drain cleaner. It can corrode your pipes and cause further problems. Instead, call a professional who can snake out your drains, or do it yourself if you have the tools and know-how to succeed.
Keeping your drains clean keeps sinks and tubs dry, helping to avoid mold or mildew problems. It also lowers the likelihood of leaks and keeps things running smoothly.
Ensure your pipes don’t freeze
When the weather gets cold, it’s important to keep your pipes insulated and warm. If your pipes freeze, they’ll burst from the pressure. Extensive damage and leaks like that can cost an arm and a leg in repairs. If you catch it quickly, you might only need to replace wood or insulation. If you don’t catch it so quickly, you might have to get help for a mold problem.
When the temperature starts to drop in autumn, disconnect hoses from outside spigots and cover the faucets with styrofoam insulators. You can buy them at any home improvement store. Ensure all of the exposed pipes in your home are insulated with styrofoam or heat tape. Keeping your entire home at a moderate temperature through the cold months is of great benefit to your pipes and ensure they keep their integrity.
Upkeep your water heater
People so often neglect their hot water heater, but it’s worth putting the time into. If you want to prolong the life of your water heater do annual maintenance on it. Autumn is a great time to do maintenance on your water heater as winter is the season it will struggle the most. You’ll want it at peak performance when hot water is most valuable.
To start, ensure any of the water heater’s pipes are insulated against the cold. Make sure to flush out sediment to maintain efficiency and avoid corrosion. Letting sediment build up in your water heater will reduce its lifespan.
Following these steps will lower the odds of having any trouble with your plumbing. Functional plumbing is a great example of “you don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone!”