Upkeep and Maintenance
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!
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 wasting 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.
Before doing any maintenance on your water heater
yourself, be sure to shut off the power, and read your
owner’s manual.
At least once every three months, drain water from the
tank. Over time sediment builds at the bottom of the
heater, which can hamper performance, and draining a
gallon or so helps remove the sediment.
You should also 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.
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.
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.
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
[Tony] or potato skins
• Never using a caustic drain opener.
- How to Maintain and Prevent Problems
Once a month, boil a few gallons of water and carefully
pour it down the sink. Boiled water is significantly
hotter than tap water and it will help dissolve soapy,
greasy materials that are coating the walls of your
pipes.
Closing and reopening the water faucets that supply the
washer each month is a good idea, especially if you have
hard water. Otherwise they may bind up and not be able
to be closed when needed, or leak at intermediate
positions.
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