5 Expert Plumbing Tips for Homeowner Maintenance

Hiring a plumber can be downright expensive, but when it comes to doing your plumbing maintenance, most homeowners shy away.

But what if you had insider knowledge that could help you avoid a huge plumbing bill?

In today’s article, we aim to do just that, pass on insider plumbing knowledge so that you know what to look out for next time, before calling your local plumbing service.

Let’s get started. 

5 Insider Plumbing Tips for Homeowners

1. Regularly inspect for leaks 

Regular maintenance checks can avoid huge disasters. Aim to do a quick run-through of all the visible piping inside your home. Check under the counters, and don’t be shy about moving away your items to get a better look at the pipes themselves.

Small leaks can turn into bigger problems, and with the proper routine of monthly maintenance, big disasters can be avoided. Freezing temperatures can cause more leaks to occur, and before the pipes explode, a leak can be an indicator that there is a bigger problem that needs to be addressed.

Check around the toilets, near any appliances, and your washing machine. Don’t just inspect for leaks, make note of any rust, moisture, or mildew that is occurring, which is signaling that you need to tighten some connections or look into replacing the fixtures. 

2. Avoid using drain cleaners 

Using drain cleaners once in a while is good for a quick fix; however, it can lead to a larger problem down the road if you keep using them. If there is a lot of blockage within your piping system, drain cleaners may help alleviate the problem temporarily but without actually removing the blockage, the problem will keep recurring.

Drain cleaners are strong chemicals that can corrode your pipes after repetitive usage. They can be good in a pinch, but they won’t be able to replicate removing the blockage itself. Get a drain snake to unclog your pipes, or even use natural solutions like baking soda, vinegar, or even hot water.

If nothing is working, then rather than using a drain cleaner, you should look into hiring a local plumber. Expert plumbers from Anytime Plumbing Inc. state: “Drain cleaners are a temporary solution to a greater problem. If the drain cleaner doesn’t reliably remove the blockage the first time, don’t continue using them as the corrosive nature of the drain cleaner can do damage and worsen the problem”. 

3. Maintain your water heater 

As the years go by, water heaters that aren’t maintained will continue to become less efficient over time. With less efficiency comes less hot water, and a higher energy bill to boot. The best solution is to drain the water heater once a year so that the sediment buildup can be removed.

Ensure that the temperature setting is set to 120°F so that it doesn’t get too hot or cause high energy bills. The older your water heater, consider replacing it with a newer model. As it will be an initial investment, in the long run, you will save on lower energy bills and less maintenance over the years. 

4. Know where the shut-off valves are 

Disasters can happen in the blink of an eye. Imagine this scenario: You may be in the dead of winter and the pipes in your house may have burst, and you only have a few seconds to act before the entire house is flooded. You don’t recall where the shut-off valves are, resulting in thousands in damages.

This can all be avoided if you check out where the shut-off valves are, especially the main water shut-off valves. It can also help to note where the individual valves are for your toilet and sinks, so you can act fast in an emergency. 

5. Insulate your exposed pipes 

The colder the environment you live in, the more attention you need to bring to preventing pipes from bursting. Exposed pipes are more vulnerable during winter times because they are exposed to the outside elements.

Insulate any pipes that are exposed in an attic, basement, or even a crawlspace. You can rely on foam pipe insulation to do the hard work of insulating, and in emergencies, you can keep your water running to prevent the pipes from freezing.

Frozen pipes do happen, but if they are still intact, you can slowly thaw them out with a hairdryer. Do not pour boiling water, but rather hot water instead. You can pour hot water down the drain as well as on the outside if necessary. 

Conclusion 

Homeowners shouldn’t be shy about doing their maintenance. Over the long run, you’ll save a ton of money and avoid huge bills from plumbers that could’ve been avoided with monthly maintenance.

Once you’re in a routine, you won’t have any trouble knowing what to look out for, and if any potential problems are brewing. While you likely can’t tackle the biggest plumbing jobs like septic tank replacement, preventative measures, and routine checkups will save you a huge headache in the future.