Much like the body’s internal circulatory system, a house’s plumbing system is of immense importance but is often not given much attention until a fault develops. Waiting to have a problem with your home’s plumbing system before paying attention to it is not a smart move. This applies even if you do not know much about plumbing systems.
In this article, we will be focusing on homeowners who are not plumbers and have little to no knowledge about how plumbing systems work. We will be sharing 5 simple tips that that can help you monitor things at home. With these tips, you can adopt a proactive approach that will save you time, money and the inconvenience and mess that can come with plumbing issues.
There are a number of things you can watch out for and take care of without needing the services of a plumber. In fact, you can reduce your need for plumbers by a lot if you master these tips.
Let’s get started..
1. Know Your Main Water Shutoff Valve Location
This is easily one of the most important things that a homeowner or renter should know. This shutoff valve cuts of water supply to the entire house or apartment. You may not know just how important this valve is until you experience a major leak or burst pipe in your apartment. In fact, it is so important that every adult in the home should know where this valve is and how to shut it off.
While some leaks or burst pipes may have immediate shutoff valves, you may not be able to quickly locate them. The easiest and fastest way to manage the situation is to cut off water supply to the entire house, allowing a trained plumber identity and fix the leak or burst.
A second option will be to turn of the water from the water meter. This meter is usually located outside the house and connected directly to the city supply. In fact, knowing this can be helpful for more than just yourself. Should you notice water pouring out of a neighbor’s house while they are away, you can turn their water off from their water meter.
You can watch this video for an explanation on how to implement both methods. You can also get your plumber to show you how to carrying out these actions if you feel that the situation is a bit different in your own home.
2. Insulate Pipes
If your home is located in a cold area, you should as a matter of urgency ensure that your pipes are not just insulated, but that the insulation retains its integrity. Houses in cold areas may, by default, have the exposed pipes insulated. Others located in areas that experience seasonal cold may not.
It’s therefore important that you always check the level of insulation on your exposed pipes before winter. You don’t want the water in your pipes to freeze, leaving your home without water supply during this period.
3. Prevent Clogs
This is one area that a lot of homes have issues. Preventing clogs general requires taking a number of proactive steps with regard to your use of the drains. Let’s begin with the kitchen.
Kitchen Drain
With all the cooking and washing going on in the kitchen, there’s a tendency to throw different bits and pieces down the drain. Continue this for long enough and you will have a clogged drain. You don’t want this.
How do you prevent this? First, do not pour the following down the drain:
- Food particles
- Coffee grounds
- Grease
Better still, place a drain cover over the opening to catch any bits and pieces that may attempt to go through in spite of your best efforts. You should also make it a habit to pour hot water down the drain every now and again because some grease will always find its way down the drain. Frequent flushes with hot water will melt and wash the grease completely down the drain.
Bathroom Drains
Many times we shave in the bathroom and hair runs down the drain, be it the tub or the sink. The first thing you should do is to place a drain cover over the openings. Secondly, try not to shave directly into the sink. You can instead shave into a bowl which you can then properly dispose of.
WCs
This is one place that many people believe that anything can go down. Well, this is not exactly true. Your toilet is designed for your poo and toilet paper. It’s a really bad idea to flush sanitary pads and other solids down this channel.
You can learn more about keeping your drains clog-free here: https://www.hunker.com/.
4. Fix Leaks Promptly
Once you notice any leaks anywhere, have these fixed immediately. No matter how small you think the leak is, it can cost you money if left. You know the saying: “little drops of water make a mighty ocean?” Well, that little leak can quickly add up to some gallons that you will have to pay for.
Not all leaks require the services of a plumber. There are things that you can handle yourself especially if you have some of the basic tools.
5. Know How to Spot Issues with Your Sewer
One of the nastiest plumbing issues you can have is with your sewer. It therefore helps for you to be able to identify symptoms of possible sewer issues before it gets worse.
A few signs to watch out for include:
- Slow Drains – If you notice that your drains are now slow and getting slower, it may be a sign that there’s an issue with your sewer.
- Foul Smell – Once you notice that there’s a persistent foul smell from your drains or certain areas of your home, then it may be time to invite a plumber for further investigation.
- Sewage Backups – This is a more certain sign than others. Once you start having backups in your toilet, sinks and other outlets, then get a plumber to take a closer look.
While this article is largely a kind of self-help guide, there will come a time when you will need professional help. In whatever city you may be, look out for the best. If for example you live in Queens New York, you want the best licensed Queens, NY plumber to ensure that the job is done right. Going for anything less may well worsen the problem.
Conclusion
This has been a quick guide to help you keep your home’s plumbing system running smoothly. While this does not include every tip, we’ve discussed some of the more important ones. If you follow these tips, you’ll be sure to save on future repair and maintenance costs.
