Plumbing remains one of the highest-paid, most reliable trades to work in. If you’ve ever experienced a plumbing emergency, you know why that is.
When your plumbing breaks, you need it fixed and fixed fast. A home cannot function without running water or working toilets.
Too many people consider their plumbing only when a problem arises, but your plumbing system is like anything else in your house. It needs regular upkeep to keep it working properly.
Read on to learn about the five plumbing maintenance tips you need to know to avoid an emergency.
One of the most common plumbing emergencies is a kitchen clog and or a garbage disposal malfunction.
A garbage disposal seems amazing. All those food scraps that would otherwise stink up your garbage can, or those uneaten leftovers that would have to take up room in your refrigerator until garbage day get shredded and washed away.
What could be more convenient? Yes, a garbage disposal is a helpful kitchen tool.
If you’ve never owned a garbage disposal, you might not know there are certain things you can’t put in it.
Most importantly, you should avoid pouring grease or fat in it. You already know how oil and fat can clog your pipes. A garbage disposal doesn’t change that.
Pasta, rice, and quinoa are also food items you cannot put through your disposal. These starchy foods stick to your pipes and will cause clogs. The same can be said of potato skins.
Vegetables like celery, kale, and cucumbers are too fibrous for your disposal. They will wrap around your blades and cause your disposal to overwork. This overwork could result in motor malfunction or expensive clogs.
Is your sink or bathtub draining slow? An all too easy and convenient solution is to head to your local grocery or hardware store for some chemical drain cleaner. Why wouldn’t you? It’s a quick and cheap way to solve slow drains or clogged pipes.
The use of chemical drain cleaner can cause serious damage to your system. What seems cheap and easy will result in costly plumbing repairs later on.
For one thing, chemical drain cleaner use has a drastic environmental impact. With these cleaners, you’re dumping harmful chemicals down your drain and putting them back into the municipal water supply.
While dangerous for human consumption, these chemicals designed to cut through nasty hair clogs will eat away your pipes and throw the bacteria balance of your septic tank out of whack.
If you use these store-bought drain cleaners, you run the risk of pipe replacement or expensive septic tank repair.
A simple, cheap plumbing maintenance tip is to buy drain screens for all your drains.
Human hair is one of the most common causes of pipe or drain clogs. Hair is durable and not easily broken down. Hair deposits will stay in your pipes for a long period of time and act as a catch-all for any other solids traveling through your pipes.
Hair entangled with solids slows water flow, and can eventually lead to a complete blockage. If you notice inches of water around your feet when you shower or slow drainage in your bathroom sink, your hair is the reason.
It’s also oily. The oil from your hair helps it stick to your pipes and gather anything that comes its way.
Aside from your bathroom, drain screens in your kitchen can also help you avoid emergency plumbing services.
Even if you’re a member of the clean plate club, or scrape your plates before washing, food solids remain on your dirty dishes. Without a screen in your kitchen sink, these solids end up in your pipes.
The changing seasons and cold weather can cause severe plumbing issues. Before the cold weather hits, it is important to inspect your plumbing. Do this to avoid winter catastrophe.
Cold weather means your water heater gets a workout. Service your water heater with a flush during the early part of autumn to remove sediment and deposit. Make sure to turn up the temperature as well.
Check your pipes to make sure they’re insulated. In cold weather climates, it’s impossible to predict a severe cold snap that results in burst pipes. Frozen pipes result in expensive repairs. Avoid this cost with proper pipe installation.
Another maintenance tip for a harsh winter is to run your cold water at a trickle overnight if the weather report shows severe temperatures. A constant stream of cold water, no matter how slight, prevents freezing and possible bursts.
Much like routine oil changes for your car prevent expensive repairs later on, so too can professional routine plumbing maintenance.
Hydro-jetting is a plumbing service you need to invest in to prevent plumbing disasters later on. Think of this service like an oil change for your pipes.
This process involves high-pressure water shot through your pipes to remove hair, grease, food, and all other materials that cause clogs. This water jetting procedure is safe for your pipes and the environment.
Unlike a snake, hydro-jetting completely cleans your pipes of grease and oil to prevent debris build-up. A yearly investment in this service can pay dividends.
Your home plumbing is no different than any other aspect of your house. Oiling your butcher’s block, cleaning your gutters, and jetting your pipes are all tasks meant to avoid costly repair.
Most plumbing maintenance is simple and easy. Installing drain screens, winterizing, and proper garbage disposal usage are all inexpensive ways to ensure the life of your plumbing system.
Do you need the expert help of a plumber? Mr. Flush is here for you. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.