Ten Tips to Keep Your Plumbing System in Good Working Condition

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. Corrosion
Not only can corrosion contaminate your water, but it can also break down your plumbing pipes at the joints and fittings which can lead to serious problems.  Signs of corrosion include green stains around shutoff valves and fittings (or orange/yellow stains, if you have old steel pipes).

7. Caulking
It is easy to see when caulking around a sink, tub, or toilet is coming off.  Maintain the caulking to prevent leaks and keep everything secure.

8. Water Heater
Drain out and clean the water heater as needed to remove any sediment that may be collecting at the bottom. Do this at least once a year.

9. Water Pressure
Test all of your water faucets for relatively high water pressure (as compared to the rest of the house).  Low water pressure can mean sediment buildup, or even water line problems.

10. Your Toilet
Check to see that the toilet handle is tight enough and that water does not continue to run long after you have flushed the toilet. A continuously running toilet will cost you money and is usually a fairly simple process to fix.

Your home’s plumbing is a major investment and one that you will need to last for many years to come.  Don’t take any chances with faulty plumbing materials or installation.  Put all of your plumbing needs in the hands of competent, trustworthy professionals like your RooterNOW® local plumber.