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Plumbing
Tips
An ounce of prevention will go a long way toward keeping
your home’s plumbing in top working order – and you’ll avoid costly repairs!
Faucets
and Sinks
- Even small drips can
waste thousands of gallons of water, as much as 150 gallons a day! Be sure to check under sinks for moisture or small leaks.
And always repair leaky faucets right away to avoid paying for wasted water, and also to avoid water damage to your fixtures
and pipes.
- Remove and clean your
faucet aerators annually to ensure an even flow of water.
- Make sure overflow holes on tubs and vanity are clear and open to prevent water damage to floors
and ceilings.
Water Heater
- Before doing any maintenance on your water heater yourself, be
sure to shut off the power, and read your owner's manual.
- You should periodically inspect your water heater burner. The flame under the heater should appear
blue with yellow tips. If it’s mostly yellow, or if it’s sooty under there, your flue may be clogged, which is
a dangerous situation. Contact a professional to check it out.
- At least once every two years, have your water heater inspected by a service technician. He or she
will also check the drain valve for signs of leakage, and the anode rods for corrosion.
Toilets
- Toilet
leaks can be wasteful and expensive. At least once a year, check your toilet for leaks by adding a small amount of red food
coloring to the tank, and then check the toilet bowl later. If the toilet bowl water is colored red, water is seeping through
from the tank. If it is leaking, you should replace the tank ball.
Clogs
- To
help prevent clogs, fit all your tubs and shower drains with a strainer that catches hair and soap chips, and clean the strainer
regularly.
- Do not rinse fats or
cooking oils down the kitchen sink. Liquid fats solidify in the cold pipes and create clogs.
- Avoid using caustic liquid drain openers (like Drano or Liquid
Plumber) on a drain that is completely clogged. The caustic ingredients are trapped in your pipes, and it can severely damage
them. If you can’t snake the drain yourself, contact a professional to do so.
Garbage Disposal
- You can extend the life of your garbage disposal by:
- Using plenty of cold water when running it
- Making sure you avoid overloading it
- Never disposing of things like bones or corn husks
- Never using a caustic drain opener.
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