Plumbing Tips for New and Existing Home Owners
Plumbing is something that can occasionally be ignored but plays a significant role in many activities throughout the home. Upon purchasing a new house, it is smart for the owner to take stock of what devices and areas of their property utilize plumbing and to gain a basic knowledge of some action which can be easily done to keep their appliances and other water-based systems in good condition. Below are few tips that can help new home owners prevent expensive mistakes.
Major Appliances
Large appliances, such as dishwashers and laundry machines, make day to day living easier and more opportune. For this reason, routine maintenance and understanding of how the plumbing system in your house cooperates with them is important for every homeowner. For example, when operating your dishwasher or washing machine, it is a decent idea to wait until evening, when the house’s water will not be diverted elsewhere.
This will protect water temperature and allow for higher pressure to be delivered to the machine. Check that all hoses and valves are leak free and tight. An appliance leak can lead to the degradation of the appliance and the possibility of mold, so inspecting and checking your machines is an important duty.
Drains and Disposal Systems
Sink drains and disposal systems maintenance is also very vital. Never dispose oils, fats or greasy things in the drain, because they can clot inside of the pipes and become hard to remove clogs in the future. Additional smart method to prevent clogging is to equip each drain with a strainer. This will avoid the gradual buildup of small particles and hair inside of the house’s pipes and will retain the drain in working condition with much less maintenance.
Garbage disposals can be a great way to remove waste from your countertop, but it is important to be aware of their boundaries. Though the name implies the systems can handle almost any garbage, in truth there are very specific things that should and should not be put into the disposal. Waste that is not easily crushed, such as coarse peels, bones, hard items, plastics or rinds should be avoided, as they can damage the blades and clog the drain. When putting softer foods into the disposal, make sure to turn it on before to dropping the waste. This will help the machine in crushing the leftovers.
Toilet Tips
Looking after toilets in the house is very important to avoid pricy issues in the future. Below is list of some tips to follow to assure toilets are functioning properly.
- Don’t use your toilet as a garbage can. Do not ever flush cotton swabs, cotton balls, hair, facial scrub pads, diapers, wipes, sanitary products or similar items down the toilet. These items will not easily dissolve and are cause for most clogs.
- Check toilets for hidden leaks. Add six drops of food coloring to the toilet tank. If the toilet is leaking, color will be visible in the bowl within 30 minutes.
- Examine the tank and bowl for cracks or leaks.
- Make sure toilets flush properly. If the handle must be held down for a full flush or wiggled to stop the water from running, you may need to replace old and aged tank parts. They’re inexpensive and you’ll definitely notice a lower water bill once they’re replaced.
