Most homeowners do not spend most of their time addressing their plumbing issues until they experience a major issue. While plumbing is not the most appealing subject of conversation, it is critical to spend some of your energy and time to ensure that your plumbing system runs smoothly. Remember, it can be is costly to repair your plumbing issues, and they can inconvenience you. Fortunately, there are several steps that you can undertake to hinder small plumbing problems from worsening. Below are the Preventative Home Plumbing Maintenance tips.

 

Check your shower heads.

You can also unscrew your shower heads so that you can check if they have minerals. After unscrewing the shower head, ensure that you soak it in vinegar overnight before scrubbing away the mineral deposits. Not only that, check your water heater to ensure that it does not go beyond the recommended one. In that way, you can minimize the consumption of energy in your home and prevent accidental scalding.

 

Fix leaking toilets.

In some cases, if you have a faulty seal around the valve seat, it can make your toilet continue running even when you have not flushed it. With time gunk can form around the flapper and valve seat. In this case, the gunk will hinder the flapper from sealing correctly, which can make the water drop to continue running. You might also have a faulty tank stopper or handle. However, you can prevent such issues by regularly checking the seal around the valve seat so that you can add a new one before the issue worsens.

 

Consider the items that you flush.

It can be tempting to flush everything in your toilet. However, a few of the items, especially paper towels and reactive chemicals, can damage or block your pipes, and they will not break down. In reality, you should only flush approved wipes, human waste, and toilet papers down your toilet. When it comes to sink drains, you should not pour greases, eggshells, or coffee-ground onto them. 

 

Unclog slow drains.

If you find that water does not drain properly, then there is an issue. Before the issues become worse, you can use a simple homemade mixture of hot water and vinegar to unclog and flush down any debris or dirt. You can do this preventive measure at least every month to ensure that your drains function properly. Also, if possible, you can install strainers in your drains to hinder hair and other dirt from clogging into the drains. It can cheaper to install strainers than unclogging a drain.

 

Fix leaking shower heads and faucets.

If you have faucets that can drip water, they can increase your bills, and if you do not solve such issues, the dripping can worsen with time. To preventing your faucets from leaking, you can check them regularly for any leaks and undertake necessary repairs. In particular, you can look at their handles to ensure that no water drips. You can also check underneath your sinks for drips or water stains when you turn your water system on.

 

Check all exposed appliances and pipes for water leaks.

In some cases, your water heater, refrigerator, and disposal might be the source of water leakages. You can look at the requirements of the manufacturers in maintaining your appliances. In this case, you can look at the visible signs of leakages, including water stains on ceilings and walls. Remember to check for the presence of mildew in the home. However, installing a drip tray underneath your washing machine and water heater can help prevent a huge amount of damage if you were to experience water leakage.

 

Lower Your water pressure.

You might feel good if you have a high amount of water pressure in your shower. However, high pressure can damage your pipes with time and can make your pipes to be noisy. However, you can prevent your pipes from breaking by lessening the water pressure by using a pressure reducer. In most cases, you should ensure that your water pressure ranges between 40 and 85 psi, and you can measure it using a hose bib gauge.

 

Install a water softener.

Hard water can minimize the lifespan of your plumbing system. In this case, hard water contains minerals including magnesium and calcium that build in pipes and reduce the water flow. In turn, the minerals become detrimental to the fittings and joints. Other minerals can even corrode some parts of your plumbing system. However, you can prevent such issues by installing a water softener at the mainline that enters your home.

 

Avoid the freeze.

One of the main plumbing issues that you can face is having frozen pipes in winter. However, you can prevent your pipes from freezing by insulating them from cold. To insulate your pipes, you can check the exterior hoses and install insulating caps, especially at the exterior fixtures. During winter periods, you can run hot water to reducing the amount of freezing in your plumbing system. You can also open your cabinets under sinks and fixtures to ensure that warm air circulates during winter periods.

 

Know your water lines.

It is critical for you to know your water lines within your home and how they are connected to the sewer system. Through that way, you can know the implications of planting a tree in a certain spot or if other plants that are within your compound can damage your water line.

 

There is nothing that can be dasting in your home, like having a plumbing catastrophe. To avoid such a disaster, you can apply preventive plumbing guidelines so that your system continues to run properly. In this case, the first step to preventive maintenance encompasses understanding all issues that relate to your water system. Such issues include sinks in your kitchen, bathroom, laundry, and appliances such as water heaters, washing machines, showers, and toilets. Preventive maintenance is one of the ways you can reduce repair costs in the long run. Also, a plumbing system that is properly cared for through preventive maintenance can perform more efficiently and effectively than one which is not maintained routinely.

As you try to maintain and prevent your plumbing systems from being ruined, sometimes you may need the assistance of a professional since it is a complex task. Comfort Systems, Wichita, KS, has all you may need to handle plumbing systems in your home or business. We can help with emergency repair, planned maintenance, and advice on preventive maintenance. Contact us today!