That’s right, folks, our friendly San Luis Obispo plumbers are talking about the importance of regular plumbing maintenance to keep your home in tip-top shape!
Regular maintenance is important when it comes to just about everything: your car, boat, bicycle, or yourself, for that matter. That’s especially true for a very important part of your home—one that involves pipes, plungers, and a whole lot of waterworks.
And this goes way beyond unclogging toilets and fixing a small leak here and there. This set of tips goes deep into the recesses of your home’s pipes, and how to keep them flowing correctly. It’s one of the keys to an overall well-maintained abode, and can save you a ton of money in the long run on costly repairs and high utility bills.
1. Preventing Drips and Drops
Picture this: You’re enjoying a cozy movie night in your living room, wrapped up in a fuzzy blanket, when suddenly, you hear it – the infamous drip, drip, drip. It’s the sound that strikes fear into the hearts of homeowners everywhere – a leaky faucet. But regular maintenance could keep that dreaded problem from ever occurring in the first place.
And those little drips and drops can add up to big problems. From water stains on your ceiling to a spike in your water bill, ignoring proactive leak maintenance can be costly. Regular check-ups of sink, shower and tub fixtures to ensure the washers are in good shape, screws and nuts are tight and drainpipes are all tightened and secured can give you peace of mind when it comes to those nasty leaks.
2. The Clogged Commode Dilemma
Toilets can be a tricky proposition, one minute they’re flushing smoothly and the next they’re overflowing all over the bathroom floor or it’s running non-stop like Forest Gump — not surprisingly considering their daily use. But before it comes down to having to reach for that plunger, regular plumbing maintenance can keep your toilet in fighting shape.
To prevent a problem from popping up in the first place, make sure the only objects getting flushed are what a toilet is intended for, meaning no “flushable” wipes and other items that belong in the trash. Only toilet paper and, you know, organic waste. Also, regularly lift the tank lid and make sure the water level is correct and there are no signs of a bigger problem (corrosion of parts in the tank, sand or softener resin beads in the bottom of the tank, etc.)
3. Water Heater Maintenance
Ensure your water heater operates efficiently by scheduling regular maintenance, which you can read all about here. Flushing the tank to remove sediment buildup, checking the temperature, testing the pressure relief valve, and inspecting the anode rod are essential maintenance tasks that should be performed at least once a year.
4. Protect Your Pipes
Freezing temperatures can cause pipes to freeze and burst, so insulate exposed pipes, especially those in unheated areas, to protect them. Foam pipe insulation sleeves are readily available and easy to install.
Pipes underneath your home are also prone to tree root damage, which can cause all sorts of problems from leaks to clogs. Regularly inspecting your yard for tree roots near your plumbing lines and bringing in the pros to perform a root blockage check, root barrier installation or provide recommendations on landscaping techniques to prevent root intrusion is never a bad idea.
5. Leave it to the Pros
Engage a professional plumber to conduct regular plumbing inspections. They have the expertise to identify potential issues before they become major problems. A plumber will assess your entire plumbing system, including hidden areas, and provide maintenance recommendations specific to your home.
Regularly inspecting and maintaining your plumbing system helps detect these issues early on, allowing you to address them before they become more significant and costly to fix. By investing in preventative maintenance, you can save significant amounts of money in the long run by avoiding expensive repairs and replacements. Keeping your plumbing system in tip-top condition also helps improve efficiency, which can save you money on utility bills and conserves an important resource, water.
So, don’t hesitate to call the friendly San Luis Obispo plumbers at Griffin Plumbing for more plumbing maintenance advice or to make sure your pipes, faucets and drains are all in working order. We’re always a call or click away!
