Every homeowner knows the hassle of plumbing, and it’s there for most of our time. While we don’t usually think about them or be concerned about their maintenance and standard requirements, once a leak or a particular pipe stops functioning, it becomes a massive issue for all inhabitants.
Nobody enjoys working through plumbing issues, especially when you’re paying for plumbing services. That is why we have collected easy tips and habits to prevent plumbing issues while maintaining its condition and longevity.
Keep Grease Off Your Pipes
Big mistakes usually come from minor, habitual errors that you may overlook. Disposing grease and oil on your kitchen sink is one of those things. It may seem fine at first since oil is liquid and easily slips through the pipes.
But remember that these things contain fats, and they have the tendency to stick on plumbing walls and solidify, forming a thin film of fat. So, imagine what happens if that film of fat gets thicker and thicker through time? It clogs the pipes, which may end up needing to get them professionally cleaned.
The best thing to do in these cases is to keep these byproducts in a container and throw them in trash cans. You could also wait for them to harden and dispose of in compost bins.
Know Your Valves
At some point, you’ll experience some level of plumbing problems, and most likely, it has something to do with your pipelines. Hence, you must know how to minimize damage before starting repairs.
As early as now, start familiarizing your water valves. These valves are commonly found in the back of your houses or basements. They are easy to spot once found, usually surrounded by numerous pipes leading to different parts of your home. If you’re living in an apartment or condominium, you might want to ask your landlord.
These valves can run or completely cut off water pressure. If leaks or even bursts happen, your first action should be closing all water valves and disconnecting electrical ports to minimize damage and avoid hazards. You will be thanking yourself for avoiding spending considerable amounts on repairs and other fees.
Avoid Puncturing Your Pipes
If you’re doing some renovations in your home, you may want to map out the pipelines first. Standard pipes may be sturdy and resistant to damages, but puncture one of them, and you’ll be saying goodbye to your savings. Pipes are expensive to repair and can damage surrounding structures, especially if it’s the main pipe.
Consider buying a stud finder or get a professional to map it out for you. Plumbing websites, can help you with these problems. They also do installations and safety checks, so you’ll be taking more than what you’ve spent on their services.
Watch Out For Water Leaks
Leakages happen all over your living space. Small and unnoticeable they may be, they’re one of the reasons why people spend thousands of dollars on home repair. Fortunately, there’s no need to fear this disaster waiting to happen. Despite being undersized and hiding in plain sight, there are signs that you can quickly tell if there’s a leak in an area of your home.
The first giveaway to leaks is discolorations on the ceilings and places near sinks, toilets, and faucets. Water buildups cause these spots, and they’re easy to spot using a simple flashlight. The second giveaway is a specific smell you pick up when there’s a leak.
A faint or sometimes musty scent of mildew indicates a leak in basements and crawl spaces. This scent comes from molds that were born out of stagnant water leaks. Once you locate these leaks, you could either get a plumber to fix them early or fix them by yourself using cheap sealants and pipe wraps.
Doing this keeps your home and your bank account safe and helps you map out different pipelines in your home that you can use in certain situations.
Don’t Tighten Your Faucets
This is a habit most homeowners didn’t know they shouldn’t do. Often, tiny drops of water from faucets can be annoying, especially when it’s nighttime. Its tiny drops echo around the house, letting you know it’s there to annoy you, to which you respond by closing the tap tightly.
This is a bad habit. Tightly closing them wears down their seal because of too much pressure. Avoid this by turning them until you get to their stopping point. You’d want to put them under an adequate amount of pressure to make their seals last longer.
In Conclusion
Plumbing is an important factor in maintaining your home’s living conditions. While they don’t require to be taken care of frequently, neglecting them can cause massive damage.
The habits mentioned above are your preventive measures to keep your pipes in check and in good condition. When all else fails, don’t hesitate to contact your local plumbing services to keep your pipes strong and prevent significant issues for a small fee.
