Ten Tips to Keep Your Plumbing System in Good Working Condition

Ten Tips to Keep Your Plumbing System in Good Working Condition

by | Sep 1, 2018 | DIY Plumbing Tips, Helpful Info

Ten Tips to Keep Your Plumbing System in Good Working Condition If you own your home, at some point you will encounter plumbing problems that require a trained professional. There are simple things you can do around your house to help keep your plumbing fixtures in good shape for years to come. 1. Clean your Shower Heads Sediment buildup in your shower heads can lower your water pressure.  Fortunately, it is easy to remove shower heads and soak them in a calcium/lime/rust agent to remove any clinging sediment. 2. Leaks Leaks are sometimes easy to find and other times they can be within the walls themselves or even in your sewer pipes. It is a good idea to keep on a regular lookout for leaks throughout your home and property, so that you can prevent small problems from growing into larger problems.  To find leaks, simply look for wet spots in the walls and ceilings, puddles on the floor and wet spots in your yard. 3. Leaky Faucet Tighten all of your faucets as much as you can and make sure you don’t have any water leaking out of them. 4. Mildew This problem is a health hazard, and is often the result of a puddle of standing water that has dried up. Mildew can be found on many different surfaces. Standing water may be indicative of a leak, so watch for mildew. 5. Drainage Water should drain fast enough that it swirls around when going down.  Watch for the swirl, and listen for bubbling which will alert you to whether or not your drains are getting clogged. 6....
3 Proven Methods to Prevent Frozen Pipes

3 Proven Methods to Prevent Frozen Pipes

by | Aug 30, 2018 | DIY Plumbing Tips

3 Proven Methods to Prevent Frozen Pipes When winter is on the way it is important to winterize your home to prevent plumbing problems.  Every homeowner needs to prepare their plumbing pipe work for the freezing cold weather. If your pipes freeze during winter the result can mean bursting pipes which leads to extensive water damage.  Avoid this common winter mishap by adhering to these three proven methods to prevent frozen pipes: 1. Keep Pipes Warm Every home usually has exposed pipes in the crawlspace and/or attic area.  Simply wrap pipes with insulation material to keep them warm.  If you live in an especially extreme winter weather area, then you may even want to wrap your pipes with heat cables (controlled through your thermostat) or heat tape.  Simply follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the proper installation method.  Additionally, when the temperature drops, make it a point to open all of your cabinet doors in order to allow the heat into the back wall spaces where your pipes are located. 2. Seal Air Leaks Even the smallest leak from outside can let in enough cold air to freeze your pipes in colder climates.  Examine your home thoroughly for any spaces that might be vulnerable to an air leak (spaces around outdoor-to-indoor pipes, electrical wiring, air ducts, and dryer vents are the most common culprits, as well as attic spaces and crawl areas). Once you have located potential areas of leaks, seal off any leaks you find with a combination of caulk and insulation, as is appropriate for the space. The Water System It is a good idea to leave a faucet running...