What Should I Be Doing For Plumbing Maintenance?

Like many parts of your home, it’s important to perform maintenance on it on a regular basis to ensure it stays running well and large problems don’t occur. Although problems will always come up, it’s inevitable, if you stay on top of the repairs they will be a lot less likely to take place. Did you know that you should be doing plumbing maintenance? Colepepper Plumbing San Diego is here to explain exactly what you should be doing to keep your plumbing in the best shape possible. Keep reading to learn more. It’s important to note that the plumbing system in your home is actually 15% of your home value. This just shows how important it is and how it’s very critical to keep it in as good condition as possible. When you practice proper plumbing maintenance it stays cleaner, it gives you fresher water, it comes out both warmer and colder, it is healthier, and it even saves you money on your electric bill every month. Since one of the benefits is keeping your water cleaner, that also means if you are not maintaining your plumbing it can cause issues with the water you are drinking. Most people don’t think about any maintenance, in fact, they don’t think about their plumbing at all until a problem occurs. Then they end up realizing everything that was wrong which can result in a large bill. A large bill and large issues can be avoided by doing regular plumbing maintenance. One of the first things you can do in order to perform maintenance is to check for small leaks occasionally. This means if you catch them, they will stay a small leak and not turn into a large leak. While checking or leaks you want to inspect your washing machine, dishwasher, any appliance that use water, and your water heater. If you have a leak it not only can damage your plumbing but your entire home in general. If a leak goes unnoticed, it can damage woot and rot through it, cause mold, corrosion, and much more. Pipes can freeze and burst if you live in a colder area in the world. If you have water that has gone into the carpet, make sure it has been vacuumed up to ensure no mold or mildew has begun to form. Every single day you can be doing something to help your plumbing stay safer. If you ever have a clogged drain, it’s important to get rid of it right away. Even if you notice the water is draining slower than usual, this still means you need to ensure it is cleared and not backed up. To prevent clogging in the kitchen, make sure you are not putting things down the sink you are not. For example, oil should be disposed of properly and not drained down the sink. If you are cooking bacon, don’t put the leftover grease down the sink either. Also, foods that are stringy like banana peels and celery need to be ground up and not just put down the disposal. Another great tip is to always run the water for 15 seconds before using the disposal. This will allow any food that is currently in it to continue flushing down. Bathrooms are another area in the home where plumbing can become an issue. Make sure the shower and sink are draining correctly on a regular basis. If you have females living in the home, hair can get clogged from going down the shower drain. After each shower, try and clean it out. If you have multiple people living in your home, try and leave 10 minutes between each shower. Many times people believe the solution is to use chemicals to remove a clog however in the end, these can actually cause more harm to the pipes. There is maintenance you can also be doing weekly. It’s important that you check for small issues that can end up costing you money. This means, go around your home and check for leaks. Check for puddles of water, any watermarks that may have suddenly occurred, any unusual smells, and finally a sign of mold that may be forming. In your washing machine, make sure you are cleaning your lint traps on a weekly basis too. Small leaks can be such a waste of money for you. They also are a waste of water for the environment. If you ever notice a small leak, make sure you take care of it before it becomes a larger leak. The next maintenance list only needs to be performed a couple of times per year. In order to remind yourself, at the beginning of each season start going through the house and performing these maintenance routines. Make sure to look out the outside of your home and not just the inside. In order to do this, you want to leave the hose in a warmer area so it does not freeze. If not, it can end up bursting. If you have water valves outside, make sure you turn them off. If there are any leaks and you are unsure of what to do with them, make sure you call a trusted plumber so you can get them taken care of as quickly as possible. As for your water heart, 120 degrees is the optimal temperature for it. You also want to test the pressure of the water to ensure it working properly and draining correctly. As you can see, there are a lot of things that can be done in order to better maintain your plumbing. If you do this you are sure to have fewer issues throughout the year which will save you time and money. For more plumbing maintenance tips, contact us today.