The plumbing system in your home is complex and it needs proper attention and care to ensure it keeps working the way it should. We understand that it’s easy to take your plumbing for granted (most of the pipes are hidden from your sight), but it’s also easy to take a few steps to help keep it in the best shape.
Below we’ve listed several important “Dos” and “Don’ts” when it comes to your home’s plumbing.
Do…
- Locate the plumbing shut-off valve to your house so you can turn the water off in case of an emergency like flooding from a burst pipe. The shut-off valve should be located next to the water meter.
- Schedule routine drain cleaning once a year. This is the best way to keep away clogs in the future. It also extends the life of the plumbing material.
- Leave your heating system on when you leave the house for a winter vacation to help prevent the pipes from freezing. It doesn’t have to be hot—set the temperature to 55°F to keep the house just warm enough to protect the pipes.
- Install drain screens and drain covers in your bathroom sinks. These screens strain out hair that can rapidly turn into a major source of clogging.
- Schedule routine maintenance for your water heater. This will stop future repairs, extend the system’s service life, and keep the cost to operate it down.
Don’t…
- Put any food waste down the disposal that isn’t something you could chew with your teeth. This includes fruit pits, unpopped popcorn kernels, and meat bones. These can break the disposal.
- Use the toilet as a trashcan. Not only does flushing anything down a toilet that isn’t human waste or toilet paper waste water, but it can also easily clog up the plumbing system or clog up the municipal sewer lines. (This especially applies to moist wipes, even if marked as “flushable”).
- Pour chemical “drain cleaners” into any drain as a method to unclog it. These chemicals are acidic and toxic and will cause damage to the drainpipes. They only provide a short-term solution and leave most clog residue still inside the drain. Have professionals clean the drains if using a plunger or drain snake doesn’t work.
- Ignore any signs of leaks in the house, no matter how small they may seem. Leaks cause extensive damage over time and accumulate into large water waste. Leak detection will find all the leaks in your house so you can have them repaired.
- Attempt any major plumbing repairs on your own. If it’s more complicated than replacing an aerator in the faucet, it’s better to call our team for professional plumbing service in Rochester, NY instead.
In general, it’s always a good idea to ask for help with your plumbing. After all, that’s why we’re here. And our services are so good that you’ll look for a reason to call us!
We are an official New York State Clean Heat Contractor and you can be eligible for up to $4,900 in rebates from NY state!