A preventive maintenance system can help keep the plumbing system in your home at its ultimate working condition. Other homeowners hesitate about maintaining their pipes, drains, and toilets – thinking it’s expensive and tedious. But if you think of it, paying for the cost of repairs if problems arise is always pricier than if you just do regular upkeep, especially if you end up having to replace the entire plumbing system.
Here are some tips that can help you avoid untimely plumbing damages:
- Have the water heating system regularly inspected. When you care for your water heater at home, it may last for a decade or more. Because it is used every day, it is important that you check its state monthly to see if there is any potential problem. Look out for signs that there might be something amiss with your water heater. Check the temperature and pressure in case there is no gurgling sound. It could mean no water is released to the drain tube. If so, it may be necessary to replace it for everyone’s safety.
- Upgrade hoses and fixtures. If you are using rubber hoses you should consider replacing them with metallic ones. This applies to plumbing fixtures like waterline raisers, pipes, and valves. Most modern homes have more complex plumbing systems, too. This is because of all those additional appliances that older homes cannot accommodate like automatic sprinklers and wet bars. One way to check for signs is to inspect the walls, ceilings, and floors, throughout the house.
- Make sure that the sink drain is always clean and free of debris. Because the drains in your bathroom and kitchen are prone to clogging, you might notice that the draining process sometimes get slow. It could be that there are food particles or hair strands are stuck and are causing this problem. Regular cleaning of the drain can prevent this from occurring. Avoid pouring cooking oil and fatty fluids into the sink. Install a sink trap so that particles won’t be able to pass through.
- Check if the main water shutoff valve is working properly. It is crucial that a home owner knows the location of the main shutoff valve which is often found next to where the water meter is. This will let you stop your water supply immediately in case of emergency. For this reason, you should routinely check if it’s properly working and there are no signs of leakage. Doing so is especially important during winter when the freezing temperature can easily harden the handle.
- Have a certified plumber inspect the whole system annually. This way any potential problem can easily be detected. Have a professional test the details of your plumbing system. Their findings will show if there are anything that requires any repair.
Maintaining your plumbing system in tip-top shape should be one of your priorities. After all, it is when you perform preventative steps that you get to avoid both small and big plumbing disasters.
