Nobody wants to deal with plumbing issues. They are inconvenient, stressful, and expensive. This is why we need to take the necessary measures to ensure the health of our plumbing systems. Thankfully, you can avoid major plumbing issues with only a few measures. We have compiled a list of tips from expert plumbers to help homeowners become pros at avoiding plumbing issues.
Tips on Avoiding Plumbing Issues
Follow the tips below to avoid plumbing issues and maintain a healthy plumbing system:
Invest in a Drain Filter
Drain filters are no less than a Godsend product. These incredibly cheap tools can help you avoid major plumbing issues that might cost hundreds and thousands of dollars to fix. Drain filters allow you to control what goes down your drain. One of the major culprits behind clogged drains is waste buildup comprising hair, grease, food particles, oils, etc. These materials can end up in the water after daily tasks like showering or dish cleaning. Over time, they may lead to a buildup which can cause your drains to become blocked and impact the water flow within your home. Having no water can cause major inconvenience. Besides, repairs can cost you a substantial amount of money, depending on the extent of the damage.
Therefore, investing in a simple drain filter can prevent these issues. All you have to do is place the filter over your drain to allow it to catch waste materials and clean it once every week. However, it is important to remember that you must remain mindful of your actions since a drain filter may not catch liquid substances like oils or grease. Hence, avoid draining leftover oil from your cooking pans into your drain and dispose of it in the garbage instead.
Avoid Flushing Anything Other than Human Waste into Your Toilets
Toilets are only capable of handling human waste and biodegradable toilet paper. However, sometimes it can be easy for us to forget this and flush items like cotton balls, feminine hygiene products, face wipes, etc. This can cause our toilets to become clogged. Clogged toilets are a major inconvenience since they can cause wastewater to drain out of the toilet and lead to unhygienic conditions. This is why you must remember only to flush waste and toilet paper down your toilet.
Furthermore, if you live in a home with children who like to flush items like cloth or toys down the toilet, you must keep your children from going in the toilet unsupervised. Flushing large items down the toilet can cause major blockages and damage your pipes, leading to expensive repair costs. Experts also recommend being mindful of the toilet paper you purchase. If you are purchasing low-quality and non-biodegradable toilet paper, that can lead to clogs in your toilet. Hence, make it a point only to buy eco-friendly and biodegradable toilet paper that easily dissolves in water.
Insulate Your Pipes
Protecting your plumbing system from weather damage is critical if you live in extremely cold climates. When temperatures drop during winter, the water within your pipes can freeze. This can exert immense pressure on the pipes, causing them to expand and eventually burst. Burst pipes can cut out the water supply to your home and lead to expensive repair costs. Furthermore, burst pipes can flood your home with water and cause extensive structural damage. Thankfully there is a simple solution to this: plumbing insulators.
Plumbing insulators are made of different materials, from polyisocyanurate and cellular glass to ceramic fiber and polyurethane foam. These materials can insulate your pipes and offer them protection against freezing temperatures. The material a plumbing insulator is made of plays a significant role in its ability to protect your pipes from extreme temperatures. For example, polyurethane foam insulators can offer protection from temperatures as low as -150°C and as high as 110°C. In contrast, polyisocyanurate can protect against temperatures -150°C to 125°C.
The ideal way to choose the best plumbing insulator for your pipes is to consider the temperatures of the area you live in. Furthermore, hiring experienced plumbers for the plumbing insulator installation is also a great way to ensure you choose the best materials for the job.
Experienced plumbers can use their experience and expertise to recommend you the ideal plumbing insulators to protect your pipes.
Think Before You Plant
Your landscaping choices have a direct impact on your plumbing system. Most homes have underground plumbing pipes that usually run within the surroundings of the property. If you have planted trees, especially ones that grow large and have aggressive root growth, you can risk your plumbing pipes suffering damage from the roots of these trees.
Therefore, it is best to avoid planting trees like poplars and maples in your yard since they damage underground pipes. The roots of these trees can exert immense pressure on your pipes and cause them to crack or even burst. When planning landscaping on your property, consult with your plumbing experts and landscaping professionals to ensure your plants do not hurt your plumbing system.
Get Regular Plumbing Inspections and Maintenance
Regular plumbing inspections and maintenance measures allow homeowners to approach plumbing system maintenance proactively. Getting your plumbing system inspected by experts regularly will allow you to spot issues in the early stages of development and remedy them before they turn into major and costly problems. Experts recommend getting plumbing inspections at least once annually.
During inspections, plumbers pay attention to all components within your plumbing system, including pipes and drains. They look for issues like cracks, damages, leaks, and blockages and conduct maintenance measures like replacing worn-out components to ensure the proper functioning of your plumbing system.
If it has been over a year since you last had your plumbing system inspected, we recommend scheduling a visit from licensed plumbers at the Mesa Plumbing Company. AT MPC, we prioritize 100% customer satisfaction and offer affordable plumbing service 24/7. Our plumbing company has been around since 1949, with most of our business coming from referrals, which is a testament to our high-quality services. Dial (480) 832-1660 to learn more about our offerings.