Plumbing Maintenance

If you want to make sure that your plumbing system keeps working as it should plumbing maintenance is a must, you should be aware of the different plumbing problems that can happen. By staying on top of possible problems, you can keep everything running smoothly and avoid having to pay a lot for repairs.

Leaky Faucets

Wherever the leaky faucets are, bathroom, kitchen, or laundry room it’s important to fix them while they’re small.

Even if it seems rather insignificant any water leaks can cause problems such as mold build-up, and they will get bigger and sometimes suddenly.

Faucets can leak at the source where water comes out, and they can also leak at the base of the faucet.

Check both areas and repair as needed. 

Slow Drains

Hair, bits of food, and other things can get stuck in a sink or tub, which makes the water drain slowly.

If you don’t want a completely clogged drain, you should fix slow drains as soon as you notice them.

Using a special tool called a “zip it tool” to get rid of hair buildup, which usually happens in bathroom sinks.

You can also use a mixture of baking soda and vinegar to clean each drain after you’ve taken out the things that are slowing it down.

This will get rid of anything else you might have missed.

Low Water Pressure

If you notice a change in water pressure coming from your shower or sinks the culprit is likely the faucet aerators are clogged with minerals.

This is easy to clean using something like Lime-A-Way.

Simply remove the aerators and soak according to package instructions to remove mineral build-up.

High Water Pressure

If your water pressure seems very high, either suddenly or all the time, this can also be a problem.

A pressure gauge can be used to check the water pressure.

If the pressure reading is too high, the pressure regulator needs to be changed. It’s not safe to have really high water pressure.

If you don’t fix it right away, it can damage your pipes and make a big mess.

Running Toilets

Nothing wastes water quite like a running toilet.

If you find that you’re having to wiggle the handle too much to get the toilet to stop running it’s time to replace the works inside the toilet.

You may only need to replace various parts like the flapper chain or the flapper seal.

A great way to check to see if your toilet is running even if you can’t hear it is to put some food coloring into the tank and see if the bowl water becomes colored without flushing it.

Sink Leaks

Check under all cabinets with sinks for leaks. If there is any moisture at all under any sink it should be taken care of.

Try to locate the source of the leak and repair it using a patch or by replacing the pipes.

Catching small leaks before they become large can save both time and money. 

Garbage Disposal Issues

Sometimes garbage disposals can leak too.

Look to the manufacturer’s manual to learn how to maintain your garbage disposal.

Check regularly for leaks even if the disposal seems to be working fine. It should be completely dry under the sink. If it’s not dry or there is condensation under the skin assume a leak and locate it and repair it.

Avoid Sewage Backups

If you have a septic system it’s important to follow the instructions you were given to care for it.

It’s also important to be careful what you put in your sewer, down your drains, and in the toilet.

Sewer issues can be very expensive. Know the signs of a sewer drain clog so that you can get to it before it becomes too serious.

By being mindful of all of these issues with plumbing in your home you can avoid problems becoming bigger and costing more money.

Maintenance is always less expensive than massive repairs due to waiting too long.

Remember that your home is likely your largest investment, keeping things working well can only improve your investment.