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Plumbing issues can be a nightmare for homeowners, especially if you are clueless about how to deal with them. From leaking taps to blocked sinks, there's always a plumbing problem that needs to be fixed. However, with the proper knowledge, you could save a lot of money and hassle by keeping your plumbing system in the appropriate condition.
In this blog post, we'll discuss some of the best domestic plumbing tips that will help you keep your plumbing system fully functional and maintain the overall functionality of your home.
The Best and Most Effective Domestic Plumbing Tips
Understand your plumbing system
Plumbing is one of the most complex systems, and it could be pretty intimidating if you don't understand the basics. Equipping yourself with this knowledge is essential to allow you to maintain your system correctly and know what to do when a plumbing issue arises.
You should take time to familiarise yourself with your home's fixtures, sump pumps, and piping system. Ensure you have a basic understanding of their working mechanism and their location.
This allows you to handle them more effectively when emergency plumbing issues, like burst pipes or significant flooding, arise. While a professional plumber will help manage your plumbing system, it's essential to equip yourself with knowledge on the dos and don'ts of handling and maintaining it.
Avoid flushing foreign objects down your toilet
You should avoid flushing foreign objects down your toilet as they could result in a blocked toilet. Such items include feminine hygiene products, cotton swabs, and non-flushable wipes. Additionally, flushing excess toilet paper could lead to issues. If your toilet is constantly clogged, you could use low-flow toilet paper as a preventive mechanism.
Check for leaks regularly
You should also check your toilets, pipes, and faucets for leaks to help save money on your water bills. Even small leaks could cause a lot of water wastage with time, leading to high water bills. Therefore, you should make it a habit to repair leaks as soon as you detect them or find water leakage signs to prevent costly water damage.
Also, leaks could indicate other significant issues within your plumbing system. Therefore, undertaking regular inspections allows you to detect the major problem that could be causing the leakages.
Replace your old pipes and fixtures
It's also good practice to replace all old and worn-out pipes and fixtures to prevent costly replacements or repairs in the future. Have your plumber check your plumbing system to identify worn-out fixtures or pipes requiring replacement.
It's also advisable to have plumber tape as it's effective in sealing pipes. Applying the tape on all threaded connections helps prevent leaks from happening in the future.
Do not use harsh chemicals
It might seem like an effective and fast method; however, using harsh chemicals to clear clogs in your plumbing system should be a no-go. Chemical drain cleaners are too harsh, which causes damage to your pipes and could cause further problems.
If you find that your plumbing system is clogged, you could apply other effective and safe methods instead of using chemical drain cleaners. These include using a plunger, drain snake, or other homemade solutions to clear your drains. Depending on the severity of the blockage, you could contact your plumber to help clear it with the correct technique.
Insulate your pipes
Another great way to ensure that your plumbing system is in perfect working condition is by insulating all the exposed pipes when temperatures go below freezing point. Doing this prevents them from freezing and bursting during cold weather conditions, thus avoiding costly repairs in the future.
In addition, keep in mind that frozen pipes could lead to severe water damage in your home. Consequently, you need to apply the proper preventative measures to protect it from happening.
Dispose of your garbage appropriately
It is also good to be mindful of what you dispose of in your garbage disposal. Foreign items such as fruit pits, bones, and vegetable pits should never be put in the garbage disposal because they can damage the blades.
It's also essential to ensure you dispose of all other waste in your home correctly. You should not dispose of them in the drains or other areas where they could cause blocked drains.
Empty your P-traps regularly
You should make it a habit to empty all the empty traps under your sinks regularly. The traps, also called P-traps, are the curved parts of the pipe that help prevent clogging and odours from occurring in your plumbing system. When you empty the traps, you keep your system running smoothly and minimise the risks of blockages and clogs.
Check for blocked or slow drains
A slow drain might not seem like a big deal, but it could lead to a clogged drain if left untreated. If you notice any slow drains, the first thing to do is remove any hair or debris blocking the drain. You could do this by using a pair of pliers or a drain snake to remove the blockage.
Blocked drains could cause water to back up and overflow, leading to a messy and unpleasant situation. If you have a blocked drain, the first thing to try is using a plunger. Apply pressure with the plunger to create suction and force the blockage to clear. If the plunger doesn't work, you can use a drain snake.
To prevent blocked drains, avoid putting grease, oil, food scraps, and other items down your drains. Instead, use a drain strainer to catch any food scraps or hair and dispose of them in their designated bins. You could also schedule a regular annual drain inspection with your plumber. Your plumber will inspect your drains using specialised cameras to check for clogs and fix them.
Keep tree roots away from the piping system
Although trees make your yard look great, it's essential to understand that tree roots could damage your plumbing system. If large bushes or trees are planted near your piping line, the roots will invade your plumbing system in search of water.
This will, in turn, lead to damage or blockage of your system. Therefore, you must refrain from planting new bushes or trees near your plumbing line. Unfortunately, you might face the problem if you already have trees in your yard.
In this case, you could install a physical barrier or use a foaming root killer to ensure the roots don't grow in unwanted areas. However, remember that these chemical root killers could damage the whole tree if you misuse them.
Check your hot water system regularly
Your hot water system is essential to your home, providing hot water for daily activities like bathing, washing dishes, and doing laundry. However, if your hot water system isn't working correctly, it could be frustrating. To keep your hot water system running smoothly, it's essential to perform regular maintenance.
One of the most critical steps to take is to flush your water heater at least once a year. Flushing your hot water system removes sediment and debris that would otherwise build up over time and cause damage. This simple task could extend the life of your hot water system and ensure it works efficiently. You should also regularly check your hot water system's temperature and pressure relief valve.
The valve is an essential safety feature designed to release excess pressure and prevent your hot water system from exploding. To check the valve, lift the lever on the valve to remove some water. If you notice that the valve is leaking or not working correctly, you should contact a plumber to replace it. Another way to maintain your hot water system is to check the anode rod.
The anode rod is a metal rod designed to protect your hot water system from rusting. Over time, the anode rod could become corroded and need to be replaced. You should check and replace your system's anode rod annually if you notice corrosion. Finally, if your water heater is older, you should replace it with a modern one to enjoy the many benefits, including more energy efficiency.
Seek Professional Plumbing Services
As you can see from the above tips for homeowners, taking care of your home's plumbing system doesn't have to be complicated or expensive. By following these simple tips, you can handle common plumbing problems independently and save time and money.
However, it's important to remember that some issues require the expertise of a professional plumber with a licence to manage specific residential plumbing issues. Therefore, if you're not confident in your plumbing skills or are dealing with a complex plumbing issue, it's best to call a licensed plumber near you.
A plumber can quickly diagnose and fix the problem, ensuring it doesn't become a more significant issue. They can also advise how to prevent similar issues from occurring in the future and maintain your plumbing system.
