5 Tips for Keeping Your Home’s Plumbing in Top Shape for Years to Come
You use your home’s drains, water heater, supply lines, and pipes every day and trust that they will do their job of providing clean water and taking away wastewater. Even a small malfunction in your home’s plumbing, such as a cracked pipe or leaky faucet, can cause water damage and impact your daily life. Fortunately, you can help keep your home’s plumbing working well for many years by performing regular maintenance and completing repairs quickly.
1. Schedule Regular Tune-up Services
Source: blogspot.com
One of the best things you can do for your home’s plumbing is to maintain it properly. A great option is to schedule an inspection and tune-up service for your water heater every year. This type of service may help identify any minor issues before they become major problems. A technician may also use cleaning treatments to remove mineral buildup that can affect the plumbing.
2. Decide Between Repair and Replacement
While regular preventive maintenance can prolong the life of your plumbing, things will still wear out over time due to simple wear and tear. When you start noticing issues, you may want to do some research and calculations to determine whether it’s better to fix the problems or invest in a replacement. For example, scheduling a water heater repair may be the best option for a newer system. If your water heater is older, however, it may be time to replace it.
3. Get a Water Softener
Source: homedepot-static.com
If you live in an area with hard water, you may want to think about installing a system to soften it. Hard water can have an unpleasant taste and can make it difficult for soap and shampoo to clean properly. Additionally, it can cause minerals to build up in your pipes, water heater, and appliances such as dishwashers and washing machines. There are whole-house water softeners available, or you can install point-of-use softeners on the faucets throughout your home.
4. Fix Drain Problems Right Away
Source: balkanplumbing.com
When your sink or shower drains start running slowly, it can be easy to ignore the problem for a little while. However, slow drains may eventually become completely blocked and unusable. Blocked drains can prevent sewage and gray water from safely moving through your home’s pipes, leading to unpleasant and hazardous situations. When you notice a slow drain, it’s best to fix it or call a plumber as soon as possible.
5. Locate Your Water Main Valve
Source: bcarlson.com
Even a comprehensive maintenance routine can’t completely eliminate the chance of a plumbing malfunction. If you do ever have to deal with something like a burst pipe, knowing how to shut off the water main can significantly reduce the water damage to your home. It’s a good idea to make sure you know where the water main valve is and how to shut it off quickly.
When you take good care of your home’s plumbing, you can count on it to function as it should for many years. Some essential maintenance tasks include fixing slow drains immediately, scheduling tune-up services for your water heater, and upgrading to new equipment at the right time.
