These Plumbing Maintenance Tips Can Prevent Costly Repairs

There is nothing worse than having a plumbing problem in the home. When your plumbing system is not functioning properly, it can make day to day tasks difficult, if not impossible. Although you may not be a licensed plumber, there are still things that you can do in your home to maintain your plumbing system and to prevent costly repairs.

Sink Maintenance

There are several things that you can do in the kitchen sink to prevent a slow drain and clogs, which can be inconvenient.

• You should never pour fat, grease, or cooking oil down the drain. The liquids can become solid as they go down the drain, which can result in a clog. If you accidentally spill grease down the drain, run the hot water.
• After you use your garbage disposal, you should run the water and continue to let it run for at least 15 seconds.
• Avoid putting anything down your garbage disposal that could damage or clog it, such as stringy, hard, and porous foods.
• Clean your disposal regularly by running cold water and dish detergent down the drain. Also, run ice cubes and citrus slices through the disposal to clean and sharpen the blades.

Toilet Maintenance

It is important to properly maintain your toilet to prevent clogs, damage and water-wastage.

• Never use the toilet as a wastebasket. Cotton balls, diapers, and sanitary products should never be flushed down the toilet. These products are not biodegradable. They can get stuck in the pipes, resulting in a very messy backup.
• Make sure that your toilet brush is not worn. If the metal is visible, it will scratch the inside of the toilet bowl.
• Make sure that your toilet is not leaking by putting a few drops of food coloring in the upper tank. If it ends up in the bowl without flushing, your toilet is leaking. It could be due to a worn ball or a worn flapper. This type of leakage can waste water, and the ball or flapper should be replaced as soon as possible.
• If you have a septic system, you should pour Rid-X down the toilet once each month. It will eat up the bacteria faster, and can prevent a messy, expensive septic overflow.

Shower and Bath Maintenance

There are steps that you can take to protect the plumbing in your shower and bath.

• Use a drain strainer to catch hair and small pieces of soap that can lead to a nasty clog. Also, be sure to clean the drain strainer regularly.
• Since mineral deposits can develop on your shower head, you should soak it in vinegar often so that it sprays evenly.

Protect Your Appliances

You should be sure to protect your appliances that require water. These appliances can malfunction without proper maintenance just as easily as the plumbing system can malfunction.

• It is a good idea to call plumbers in Gold Coast for annual boiler service. Most boilers have a lifespan of 15 years. If you have it maintained regularly, you can increase its lifespan. Even if your boiler seems to be functioning properly, you should still have it inspected and maintained every year.
• Check the hoses around your washing machine for wear. If you have plastic or rubber hoses, you should replace them with stainless steel braided hoses. These last much longer than rubber or plastic hoses.

If you properly maintain your plumbing, the chances of an inconvenient and costly malfunction or breakdown can be prevented. The last thing that you want for your plumbing problems is to get in the way of your everyday tasks.